Legendary R’n’B Stars, Toni Braxton & Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds To Spend A Week In Zimbabwe

America’s legendary R’n’B superstars, Toni Braxton and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds will be spending a week in Zimbabwe later this month as part of their African Tour.

Popularly known as America’s ‘musical husband and wife’, the two legends who will be performing at Borrowdale Racecourse on August 28 are expected to touch down at Harare International Airport on August 24, marking their first visit to Africa.

They will depart for Durban on August 29 where they are billed to perform at the Moses Mabhida Stadium before crossing over to Capetown on September 1.

Concert organisers, Canoc Live, said Zimbabwe music lovers deserved well-organised world-class shows, hence their decision to bring in the two popular artistes.

“We’ve so much love for people in Zimbabwe as they’re our neighbours. They love good music and also deserve quality entertainment, hence our decision to bring this show there,” Canoc Live spokesperson, Pleasure Letsoalo said.

“We want to boost the economy in Zimbabwe through promoting tourism by having various people from neighbouring countries such as Botswana and Zambia flocking there to attend the show.”

Asked if they would not cancel the Harare Leg like the John Legend promoters who raised locals hopes and cancelled the show at the last hour, Letsoalo said no.

“A lot of people think that this show will not take place in Zimbabwe as people have been affected by previous promoters who’ve failed to deliver. Canoc Live has never cancelled any show, when we say we’re doing something, we deliver,” he said.

He said Toni and Babyface were coming to Zimbabwe four days before they perform as they wanted to show local fans their appreciation of their support.

“Toni and Babyface will be spending close to a week there as the artistes want to meet locals and inspire them. We’re working on their itinerary as we want to take them to tourist attractions such as Victoria Falls so they have an appreciation of Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole.”

Tickets to both Zimbabwe and South Africa shows are already on sale online with organisers still trying to secure ticket distribution booths and points to cater for the Zimbabwean market.

“We’re still looking for points were tickets will be sold from in Zimbabwe for those who don’t want to buy online. Alternatively, people can purchase tickets online from ticketpro,” Letsoalo said.

Tickets are ranging from $50 to $200.

“The cheapest is $50 while the most expensive is $200. An ordinary VIP ticket is $150 with a cash bar. Those in VVIP will be seated on reserved seats at a round table.”

“We’ve hosted 19 shows with eight international artistes and we’re now thrilled to welcome Toni Braxton and Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds to Southern Africa. Fans will be treated to a double bill as Braxton and Edmonds will each perform their own sets on the same stage.”

The Durban concert will be held at Moses Mabhida Stadium on August 30, while the Cape Town show will be held at the Grand Arena, Grandwest on September 1. The Johannesburg show will be held at the Ticketpro Dome on September 3.

The duo will follow the footsteps of other Americans, Ciara, Lil Kim, Tevin Campbell, Bryan Adams, Soul for Real and Joe Thomas who have staged shows in Zimbabwe.

With hits such as “Every time I close my eyes”, Babyface wrote and produced tracks for the late Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Eric Clapton, TLC, Mary J. Blige, Gladys Knight, the late Michael Jackson and of late, Ariana Grande.

The 11 time Grammy award winning artiste has more than 130 Top 10 R’n’B and Pop hits, 43 number 1 R’n’B hits and 55 Top 10 Pop hits. He has received numerous awards that include Soul Train Music Awards, BMI Awards and American Music Awards.

He wrote some of Braxton’s popular hits including “Fairytale”, “How could an angel break my heart” and “Breathe Again” among others.

She has earned a total of seven Grammy Awards and sold over 66 million records worldwide in her career. She has received nine Billboard Music Awards and seven American Music Awards.

Braxton and Babyface last year paired up to share their experiences of love on the album “Love, Marriage and Divorce”, which debuted at number 4 on Billboard’s Top 200 and number one on the R’n’B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It went on to win a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.  source-Chronicle

photo-Toni Braxton and Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds. Photograph: Broadimage/REX