Mandie Mae Set to Take My O and O to Jacaranda Music Festival in Harare

Bulawayo songstress Mandie Mae is set to bring her hit song My O and O to the Jacaranda Music Festival in Harare next month. The singer will perform on the final day of the festival, October 4, joining artists from different parts of Zimbabwe and beyond. Her appearance will give her an opportunity to introduce her music to a wider audience while strengthening her profile outside Bulawayo. Mandie Mae said she is grateful for the opportunity and sees the festival as an important step in her career. Her performance is expected to put her reggae and pop sound in front of a diverse festival audience.

Mandie Mae will share the stage with Victoria Falls-based songstress JustLeo and Bulawayo-based DJ Nizhe De Soul, who will represent the Matabeleland region’s creative sector. Their participation gives the festival a strong regional dimension by bringing performers from different parts of the country to the Harare event. For Mandie Mae, performing alongside other artists from Matabeleland provides another opportunity to showcase the region’s growing music talent. The presence of JustLeo also brings a Victoria Falls voice into the festival programme. Together with DJ Nizhe De Soul, the artists will contribute to a varied representation of Zimbabwe’s creative sector.

The Jacaranda Music Festival line-up features a broad selection of performers covering different styles and audiences. Other acts scheduled to appear include Zee Nxumalo, Cairo, Fusion 5 Mangwiro, Minister Michael Mahendere, DJ Young Vibes, Thando Lewandoski, MJ The DJ, Enhle and Mookomba. The range of artists means Mandie Mae will perform within a programme that brings together contemporary music, gospel, pop and other sounds. Such a setting can expose performers to listeners who may not have encountered their music before. For an artist seeking to expand her audience, the festival therefore represents an important platform for live performance and brand development.

My O and O is central to Mandie Mae’s planned performance and has become an important part of her musical identity. Taking the song to a major Harare festival allows her to present one of her recognised tracks to an audience outside her home city. Live performances also give musicians an opportunity to demonstrate aspects of their work that may not be fully captured through recorded music. Mandie Mae’s combination of reggae and pop provides a foundation for an energetic festival performance. Her description of the planned show as an energetic and unforgettable experience suggests that she intends to make the most of the opportunity.

For Mandie Mae, the festival appearance carries significance beyond a single performance. She said it is her first time performing at the Jacaranda Music Festival and expressed gratitude for being included in the programme. The singer described the invitation as a sign that she is making progress in her career. She also acknowledged feeling positive pressure to improve her performance and take the next step in her development as an artist. That combination of excitement and ambition reflects the importance she places on the Harare appearance.

The opportunity to perform in Harare can also help Mandie Mae strengthen her connection with audiences outside Bulawayo. Zimbabwe’s music industry includes artists and listeners spread across different cities, making regional exposure important for musicians who want to grow their careers. A festival setting can provide a different type of exposure from regular club performances or local shows because several artists attract audiences to the same venue. Mandie Mae will have the chance to introduce her sound to people who may be familiar with her hit song but have not previously watched her perform live. The performance could also create opportunities for future collaborations and appearances, although no specific future projects have been announced.

Mandie Mae’s reggae and pop approach fits naturally into a festival environment where audiences often expect energetic performances and a mixture of musical styles. Her promise of a “free therapy session” reflects the emotional and entertaining experience she wants to create for those attending. Music festivals allow artists to connect with audiences through performance, movement and interaction rather than relying only on recorded tracks. For Mandie Mae, that live connection will be an important part of her first Jacaranda Music Festival appearance. The October 4 performance will therefore give her an opportunity to demonstrate her stage presence while performing My O and O to a new audience.

Her participation also contributes to the visibility of Bulawayo musicians on national stages. The city has a strong creative community, with musicians, DJs and other performers continuing to develop audiences both locally and beyond Matabeleland. Mandie Mae’s appearance alongside Nizhe De Soul gives the region representation within the festival programme. JustLeo’s participation further broadens the representation by bringing an artist from Victoria Falls into the line-up. Their involvement highlights the range of musical talent emerging from different parts of Zimbabwe.

The festival appearance comes at a point when Mandie Mae is looking to take her career to another level. She said the opportunity makes her feel that she is doing something right while also motivating her to improve. That attitude places emphasis on using major performances as learning opportunities rather than treating them only as career milestones. Performing for a larger or unfamiliar audience can challenge an artist to refine stagecraft, presentation and audience engagement. Mandie Mae will have the opportunity to turn that positive pressure into a memorable performance when she takes the stage on October 4.

Mandie Mae’s appearance at the Jacaranda Music Festival is therefore an important moment for the Bulawayo songstress and her growing music career. She will bring My O and O to Harare while showcasing her reggae and pop sound to a broader audience. Her performance will also form part of a diverse festival programme featuring established and emerging artists from Zimbabwe and the region. Alongside JustLeo and DJ Nizhe De Soul, she will help represent the creative energy coming from outside Harare. For Mandie Mae, the October 4 performance is both an opportunity to entertain festivalgoers and a chance to take another step towards building her music brand beyond Bulawayo.