Ex-Form Fives to get This Iz Africa treat

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Wednesday November 17, 2010 00:00

The party, which has been scheduled for Saturday, will target both private and government Form Five school-leavers who will have completed their exams by Friday.

TIA chief executive officer (CEO), Ryan ‘Blaze’ Mipata, told Showbiz that the party is meant to bring students together in order for them to distress after what should rank as one of their hardest academic months. He said that they have decided to combine their first official party with a brand already familiar to people’s minds, The Last Assembly, who would technically be celebrating their second annual party.  The party will also be coordinated by Dee-jaying group FNP and Galanga clothing label.  Blaze said because of this they are expecting a large turnout of people for the event.  He said that so far more than 1 000 people have confirmed their attendance on the events’ Facebook page.  “Because not everyone who clicks the attendance button on Facebook actually shows up, our expectation is that at least half the people who have confirmed attendance would show up, which is still a large turnout for a local show,” he said.

Blaze said that he realises that such shows have in the past attracted negative behaviour, a factor they largely considered when organising the event.  “Because of this we have decided to beef up security and we have also decided to prevent small parties outside the venue as those are normally the cause of trouble,” he said.  Blaze said they have instructed security to chase people who park outside the gate, especially those who have hired ‘mozwanes,’ (mini-buses) as they are the ones who normally prefer lingering outside venues and starting their own small parties.  He said that all cars would be requested to be inside the Coffee Shop premises, as this would make it easier for everyone to be monitored.  Performances from ATI Batho Bame, Milez, and for the first time ever, the whole 12-member TIA group will be at the event to entertain revellers.  Holding it down on the decks will be DJs Unanimous One, Phouboy, Cyrus Da Virus, Anthem, Ricky Lamar, Stitch, Mzwex and Stapura, whilst the master of ceremonies will be Galanga’s, K-Swiss.

Local rapper Finale is also going to be shooting a music video for his single, Flee Flee Fly, featuring TIA’s D’Rap and Young Saint.  TIA last released an album in 2009 titled This Iz Africa - We Here. 

The group has been featured in various mixtapes ever since, the latest being the Rated G Mixtape by Galanga.  Their singles have received much airplay, especially on the youthful radio station Yarona fm.  Their current single in the Yarona fm top 20 countdown is from the Rated G Mixtape entitled The Way She Moves by Blaze featuring Young V.  The group is set to release their next album next year.  They have nonetheless declared a possibility for another music video in December this year.  “We now have a reliable sponsor, House of Style Hair Salon, who have made our financial transactions much easier,” said Blaze.  He said that from now on people should expect more entertainment events from them.  TIA started off with eight members and has now grown to 12.