Copycat!

Liberty Dube
BUDDING gospel artiste Trymore Bande has admitted plucking a leaf from gospel supremo Pastor Charles Charamba’s music saying he is a great fan of the latter’s compositions and has learned a lot from the musician. He has, however, taken a swipe at music critics who accused him of copying his music and riding on his back saying he was born with his voice and no one else except God can give people voices.
When Bande released his fourth album titled, “Zvakagara Zvakadaro”, last year he was branded a “copycat” after it carried a beat and vocals that many mistook for Pastor Charamba’s works.

Most music fans condemned Bande’s music saying it lacked originality and doubted his capabilities as a gospel musician. While he was trying to break a jinx in a music career that started nine years ago with four albums to date, “Zvakagara Zvakadaro” was received with great disdain and resistance by fans in the gospel fraternity.

Bande, in an interview said no one can apply for a voice since it is God’s gift.
“I am a fan of Pastor Charamba’s music. The reason why my music sounds more like his is probably because I like his music very much.
“I used to curtain raise for his shows. But to say I copied him, that’s far from the truth. I was born with my voice and there is nothing I can do about it.

“I faced painful criticism especially from Pastor Charamba’s fans who said I am not original. But people should understand that this is God’s work and we all have one goal to achieve, that is, preaching the gospel through music,” he said.
The 29-year-old musician said only God can vindicate him because it was only Him that gave him the voice.

Upon the release of the album last year, Pastor Charamba and Bande’s camps clashed over the issue.
Bande and the producer of the album, Lyton Ngolomi, from Lyt-On Studios were dragged to police for questioning.
Pastor Charamba’s camp believed Bande and Lyton had something to do with the development before the two groups ascertained that it was indeed the works of pirates who sold Bande’s album as Charles Charamba’s new release.

Pirates took advantage of Charamba’s sabbatical after having last released “Pashoko Pangoma” in 2010 and made good bucks.
Pastor Charamba’s manager, Ngoni Chandiwana, was quoted in the media as saying they had no choice but to take the route which they took.
He said: “Piracy was one thing but this reckless fraud is an entirely different case.

“We are against anything that is illegal, so to avoid ending up being blamed for taking the law into our own hands we went to the police,” said Chandiwana.

Songs on the album are “Uchandiramba Peter”, “Muimba yaMwari”, “Kuri Kwedu”, “Pharaoh”, “Zvataungana”, “Nhovo Yangu” and “Madhara Ekereke”.

Listening to the songs, one is easily tempted to wind back to early 2000 when Pastor  Charamba released the chart-buster album “Exodus”, which carries songs like “Kana Vanhu Vangu”, “Moses”, “Ndinokakama”, “Musamaria” and “Buruka”.

The lead and backing vocals and the instrumentation sound the same. And fans had something to say about the striking similarity of the two musicians’ voices. While some music critics agree that Bande is a certified copycat who should get a life and be original, another school of thought believes Bande’s voice is original and has better days ahead of him, musically.

“He is a copycat. That’s a fact. He tried to copy Pastor Charamba after so many years of toiling. I understand he has two or more previous albums which did not do well on the market. He decided to come up with this controversial album so that he comes closer to Pastor Charamba’s expertise,” said one Dangamvura resident called Leonard.

Said another music fan: “He is a good composer and his lyrics are inspiring but that voice is fake. “That’s not his voice. It’s clear he copied possibly for popularity sake. If he tries to be original and sing with in own voice, he has a lot of potential,” said Melody.

“Who owns a voice? Who gives voices except God? We should not compare their voices but cherish their compositions since it’s gospel music.

“There is no copying when it comes to gospel music. This is unlike sungura where people copy each other for fame. Bande is a good musician and to say he copied, that’s unfair.

“He is trying to make a name for himself and copying another musician’s voice as people would want to put it will only destroy him,” said one Tinashe from Chikanga.

“Bande has a good voice which is in fact better than Charles’.’’ He did not copy anyone,” said a female fan from Morningside.
Another music follower who requested anonymity laid blame on music producers saying Bande and Pastor  Charamba’s case should not be analysed in isolation.

“Some producers are mischievous. It might not be Bande’s fault but the producers might have done something roguish just to create controversy. This is not new. You remember the Shumba and Mhere saga?

“Trymore is talented and no one would want to be a popular and successful musician by copying someone,” he said.
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