A NUMBER of folk music and theatre art groups are expected to spice up this year's Miss Tourism Kinondoni beauty contest set for Friday at New Msasani Club in Dar es Salaam.

They include Makumbusho Village band, Mandela Theatre Group and Mfaume Band, the event's coordinator, Shaaban Mpalule said yesterday.

“Unlike in the past when we used to invite both local and foreign artists, this time around folk music bands only will be in hand to thrill modeling fans at the event,” he said.

Mpalule said Member of Parliament for Kinondoni Idd Azan will be the chief guest.

Sixteen beauties are expected to get onto the stage at the New Msasani Club to battle it out for the crown in the eagerly awaited pageant.

They are Roseline Sekwao, Haike Habdel, Neema Mashala, Jacqueline Mollel,  Latifa Bakari, Christine Masandeko,  Zubeda Khamis and Agnes Terry.

Others are Robi Masandeko, Juliana Jonson, Sauda Ramadhani, Bake Muhamed, Faraja Hassani, Martha Daniel, Sarah Shabani, Lulu Belo and Sophia Dio.

Mpalule said they have set aside various prizes for the winner and her first and second runners-up in the event. He fell short of revealing them.

“The beauties are set for the pageant, each looking forward to becoming the new Miss Tourism Kinondoni,” he said, adding that preparations for the event were on course.