My work is driven by passion: Nyatsambo

Standard Style
Managing an artiste and promotion of music is not a stroll in the park, but for South Africa-based Zimbabwean promoter Phillip Nyatsambo (pictured), the hassles that come along with the trade keep him going.

By Style Reporter

Managing an artiste and promotion of music is not a stroll in the park, but for South Africa-based Zimbabwean promoter Phillip Nyatsambo (pictured), the hassles that come along with the trade keep him going.

Despite having managed a number of prominent artistes in Zimbabwe and across the Limpopo, as well as hosting top music concerts, Nyatsambo has always maintained a low profile in the showbiz arena.

He believes his work and his achievements are written on the wall.

The businessman-cum-music promoter is also passionate about football development, hence his involvement in grassroots football where he sits on the board of Revival Football Academy, a Harare-based soccer development project run by former Dynamos defender Stanley “Samora” Chirambadare.

“I would call myself a jack of many trades. I am passionate about both music and soccer, hence my involvement at the rudimentary stages of their development,” Nyatsambo told Standard Style.

“I like to see the growth of Zimbabwean music as well as our football. I think my involvement in junior development in football as well as promotion of the young and unknown musicians will go a long way in the general development of my country.”

A protégé of the late Jimmy “Jimalo” Chiyangwa, Nyatsambo said despite having been in South Africa for some time, he is still involved in Zimbabwean music.

“I am still involved in Zimbabwean music and I am a manager and promoter for a number of musicians here in South Africa. I am the manager for Zimbabwean Shem Chareka, rhumba queen Host Tindo, who is based Johannesburg, as well as Tshepo Nhanane, a South African artiste,” he said.

Nyatsambo has worked with a number of artistes under his PN Promotions Company and these include Zibwe, Pied Pipers, MB Combinations, Bryn Taurai Mteki, Evans Sekete, HD David, Liversay Matamba and Jonah Moyo, among others.

He recalls with glee his heyday in Zimbabwe.

“I was introduced to music promotion and management by the late Jimmy Jimalo whom I grew up with in Chegutu. I later worked as road manager for Pied Pipers before I met businessman Taka Mashonganyika, who again mentored me into a music promoter,” Nyatsambo said.

“I am the founder of the One Love Concert, which hosted a number of artistes at Highfield Sports Bar and Niteclub. It was an electrifying concert and I have nostalgic moments for the concerts and many that we hosted during that time.”

Nyatsambo grew up in Chegutu where he attained O’ Level in education before he got a job as a weaver at David Whitehead Textiles in the town.

“I later moved to Cargill Zimbabwe in Chegutu where I worked as a receiving clerk before I got a job in Harare at Paramount Garment where I managed the in-house shops,” he said.

“I left Paramount and became operations director at Kotane Farmers which was a cotton seed buyer and manufactured cooking oil at its factory in Muzarabani.”

Nyatsambo is now the CEO of Kotane Leaf Tobacco, a subsidiary of Kotane Farmers Group.

“I am where I am because I have been linked to the right people. Special mention goes to my chief advisor and spokesperson Senator Mudangwe who is based in Durban. He has done great things for me,” he said.

The businessman-cum-promoter said he was looking forward to host a big music concert in Zimbabwe or South Africa this year.