Nicholas Zakaria is fighting in sungura star Alick Macheso’s corner saying his prodigy remains arguably the best musician in Zimbabwe despite all the negative campaign sired by the Madhawu hitmaker’s “enemies”.
By Our Staff
Madzibaba, who leads Khiama Boys, which is regarded as the substratum of sungura music, said attacks on Macheso were a “conspiracy” to destroy his career.
“Alick is one of the best musicians in the country and you can’t take that away from him. He has been attacked left, right and centre by those people who want to see him fall,” said Madzibaba in a recent interview with The Standard Style.
“We are reading in newspapers that Macheso does this and Macheso does that as if he is the first person to divorce or to part ways with band members. Those guys who deserted him were pushed out of Orchestra Mberikwazvo by his enemies.”
Macheso is yet to release a new album since 2013. His live shows have failed to rise up to their billings and most followers feel he is now a spent force.
However, Madzibaba defended him, saying he still had a lot to offer.
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“If you doubt Macheso, go wherever he performs, then you will realise that he is the best. As of the album, he is in the studio and I am told it’s coming out very soon,” he said.
Madzibaba, who groomed Macheso when he was 15 years old, said he would soon team up with Macheso to record a new album.
“We are getting into the studio with Alick to record a new album which will be out next year. This reunion also dispels rumours that we are not in good books with Macheso,” said Madzibaba, who started his music career in 1975.
Madzibaba said he was, however, a worried man because for all the years he has been in the music industry; no one has ever given him any award.
“Is it that I am a bad musician or is it that my music is not popular? I have never received an award in my whole career and it is something that worries me,” he said.
“You will realise that some musicians are given a lot of publicity on different media platforms and you ask yourself if these are the best musicians that we have in the country.”
With 26 albums under his belt in a career spanning 40 years, Madzibaba said piracy was compelling him to concentrate on live shows because music is his only source of income.
“In the past, we could buy property and cars through music sales and royalties. That is now history, because piracy has taken a toll on our industry. What boggles the mind is that senior government officials and influential people in society are involved in piracy,” he said.
He reminisces his past with glee.
“During our heydays, music shows were well-attended. We were a formidable group that comprised stars — the late Tinei Chikupo, Amon Mvula, System Tazvida, Cephas Karushanga and Macheso. Who would have wanted to miss such a line-up,” Madzibaba said.
“If these guys were still alive and we had a joint show, I wonder what would really have happened,” Madzibaba said. As Khiama Boys, they released albums — Kubva Kure, Mabvi Namagokora, Shamiso and Mabhawuwa.
Regarded as the “Senior Lecturer” for having groomed Mvula, Tazvida, Karushanga and Macheso, Madzibaba said the Khiama Boys were still alive and kicking.
“We are performing throughout the country and we have maintained our followers despite the current economic hardships,” he said.
Last weekend, the Khiama Boys gave a vintage act in Chirundu before they performed before a full house at Joy Centre in Machipisa in Highfield.
