When gospel musician Obert Chari looks back at the making of the hit song Mebo and its success, he sees a distinctive historical account of how a true love story, when told, cannot only resonate with a nation, but twists the fortunes of the storyteller.
The style interview: with Kennedy Nyavaya
In addition to his recent shot to fame, Chari is in a better place not only because he owns a smart phone (better than the “mbudzi” he sings about in his song), but because his union with wife Mebo (Mabel) has survived to date and resulted in the birth of a beautiful daughter.
Fresh from scooping first position on the annual National FM Top 50 chart and bagging the Best Upcoming award on the Radio Zimbabwe Coca-Cola Top 50 chart, courtesy of the single track, the Hakireni Stars band frontman has surpassed his expectations.
Armed with three albums in a career spanning six years, he remains, still determined to achieve more. And with so much potential to him, the world is his up for the taking.
The Standard Style reporter Kennedy Nyavaya (KN) caught up with Chari (OC), who he detailed his dreams to take the gospel to all corners of the country while securing a comfortable life for Mebo and their daughter. Below are excerpts from the interview:
KN: Can you please tell us how you started your music career and when?
OC: I used to sing in the choirs at the ZCC Church until I recorded my first album in 2012.
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KN: How old were you then and what made you take the decision to venture into music professionally?
OC: I was 25 years old then and Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi [ZCC Church leader] called me during the Defe conference and advised me to record the songs I had sung on stage.
KN: So, you already had started writing songs at that time?
OC: Yes! I wrote my first song when I was a Grade 7 pupil at Chada Primary School and it was titled Chimanjemanje.
KN: At the time you started taking interest in music as a profession, did it ever dawn to you that you would achieve such great heights?
OC: I never expected it to the point that I even discarded a prophecy at some point where I had been told that I would become a musician of note.
KN: How does it feel then to have scooped first position on National FM Top 50 as well as getting the Best Upcoming award from Radio Zimbabwe? Would you say you were ready for all of it?
OC: I was ecstatic when it all happened and I still give glory to the Almighty. I also cherish the love and support that music listeners have given me so far. I had never imagined myself reaching that high and I even had my own list of musicians that I expected to dominate the past year.
KN: Now that you have won and are ranked highly in the local music scene, what can your fans expect this year going forward?
OC: I want to maintain the standard or to go above the standard that I have set on the six-track album that I am working on currently and I am working closely with my followers who are advising me on what to do each step of the way. The album will come in August, but we are engaging different people in our streets to bring out a product that will be worth a listen.
KN: Since the time your music became popular, what has changed in your life?
OC: I have become very busy most of the time to the point that my hours of sleep have been reduced immensely. Rehearsals need to be done and I also manage the different internet platforms where we communicate with fans. I also communicate as well as visit musicians apart from attending shows. Last weekend we were performing at a venue in Zengeza 2, this week we will be at City Sports Bar, so I am always fully occupied.
KN: Most of your gigs are in night clubs and beerhalls, do you sometimes get uncomfortable performing at such secular venues as a Christian?
OC: I have never seen anything wrong with it, neither have I encountered any problems and it makes me happy that our fans respect our religion too. None of them has ever questioned my beliefs by offering alcohol, but all those who want to buy us soft drinks always ask us which flavours we take.
KN: What inspires the message in your music?
OC: As someone who studied for a degree in African Languages and Culture at Midlands State University, I draw inspiration from observing the lives of young people in our communities. Sometimes seeing our carefree attitude (as young people), I am left with lyrics in my head which turn into a song of either advice or outlining the consequences of wanton behaviour. The Word of God that is preached by Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi also plays a role as well as my personal experiences.
KN: Were you singing about your personal experience on the hit song Mebo, seeing that you mention your name “Obie”?
OC: Yes, Mabel [Mebo] is my wife and the mother of our child Anisha. She loved me regardless of my low standing in society at the time when many knew me as a mere choir boy.
KN: What is the message you want to send to your growing fan base?
OC: May God continue to bless the followers of our music who enabled us to dominate on National FM as well as facilitated the winning of the award. I also want to invite them to follow us on our online platforms so that they get information about us as it happens. Lastly, I want to say that the album is coming in August and please meditate on the lyrics of all the music we release.
KN: Lastly, what do you expect to achieve throughout the music career that you have chosen?
OC: First of all, it is my wish that the Word of God gets to all corners of the world including beerhalls and other places considered to be secular. People should get life lessons through music so that they are relentless in the journey of faith. Once this is done, I also hope to get bread on my table with my wife Mabel so that we can live in a beautiful house, drive our own car and afford good food.
