25 July 2024, Lusaka: Stanbic Bank has announced that American R ‘n’ B singers, Omarion and Musiq Soulchild, will be the two headlining artists featuring at the 2024 Music Festival on October 11-12.
Speaking during the 2024 Media Announcement Launch in Lusaka, Thursday, Stanbic Bank Chief Executive, Mr. Mwindwa Siakalima, said the two artists were set to perform in Lusaka over a two-day period this October in what will be another star-studded event of music and dance.
The history of the Festival
The Stanbic Music Festival (SMF), initially borne out of the legendary Stanbic Jazz Festival, began its journey in 2014, as part of the bank’s efforts to grow Zambia’s music and arts industry, Stanbic have continued with the annual SMF, which will see a live concert being held for the first time in four years.
Throughout its glorious 10-year-history, the SMF has showcased world-famous bands and artists, globally-renowned for their chart-topping hits. From Boyz II Men at the 2017 Festival to 3-time Grammy Award winning R ‘n’ B superstar, Ne-Yo at the 2023 show, the Festival has attracted thousands of local and continental audiences, and has also helped to showcase Zambian music internationally.
This year’s two headlining artists
Global superstars, Omarion and Musiq Soulchild will be performing at this year’s Stanbic Music Festival! Musiq Soulchild born Taalib Johnson, is one of the most influential R&B singers of his generation. Weaned on Marvin Haye, Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway, Musiq pioneered the “neo-soul” movement of the early millennium. He has earned 13 Grammy nominations and sold millions of records world-wide, and is still one of the most popular performers of his time.
Musiq went from singing on the street corners of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the late 1990s, to landing a big record deal with Def Jam in 2000, ushering in a new age sound of his own. He has also received awards from Billboard BET, ASCAP, BMI and Soul Train, together with other award nominations from MTV, the American Music awards and the NAACP.
Omari Ishmael Grandberry, is better known as Omarion, an American Grammy nominated R&B singer, actor and former lead singer of B2K Born and raised in Inglewood, California.
He rose to fame while still a teenager as a member of the ground-breaking urban “boy band” pop group B2K.His soulful vocals, riveting stage presence, and undeniable charisma helped B2K score a hit with the group’s very first single, “Uh Huh,” in 2001; achieving gold status with the group’s self-titled debut album in 2002; and go RIAA platinum with the group’s best-selling sophomore outing, Pandemonium! in 2003.
Omarion eventually released his debut solo album ‘O’ in 2005, going Platinum and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. In 2006, his second album, 21, also debuted at #1 and went Gold, selling over 900,000 copies worldwide. In 2007, he collaborated with rapper, Bow Wow, and they released an album together entitled Face Off.
Stanbic pledges another star-studded Festival
Announcing this year’s two headliners in Lusaka, Thursday, Mr. Siakalima said: “Both artists will feature at this year’s SMF for two nights on 11th and 12th October 2024. They will perform at the Lusaka Polo Field, alongside local artists that will be announced in the coming days. You will be pleased to know that tickets for this amazing concert are now on sale, with the prices as follows: Standard tickets, which cost K700; VIP tickets, going for K2,500; and ‘Golden Circle’, priced at K3,500.”
Government commends Stanbic for maintaining Festival
Speaking at the same event, Minister of Youth, Sports and Arts, Elvis Nkandu, M.P., who was represented by Acting Director Arts at the Ministry of Youth, Sport And Arts, Mr. Evaristo Makwaya, said: “We were delighted that Stanbic Bank successfully managed to attract three-time Grammy Award-winning R ‘n’ B music sensation, Ne-Yo, to Zambia last year! Government is proud that the global superstars, Omarion and Musiq Soulchild will be visiting our country and performing at this year’s Stanbic Music Festival! It is equally exciting that many of our local artists will get the opportunity to perform alongside Omarion and Musiq Soulchild who are both successful and established international artists. Initiatives like the SMF go a long way towards strengthening the music scene in Zambia, and I commend Stanbic for attracting talented Global and Local artists to perform on the SMF stage.”