admin
Brenda Phiri Lifestyle Writer
The lengths to which people go to in order to achieve their dreams are at times remarkable. Such is the life story of Succeed Zvavanjanja (32) of Chitungwiza.A medical practitioner by day and sungura maestro by night; he is indeed that living proof that once the matters of the heart can be complicated.
Almost a decade ago, his dreams of becoming a musician almost tumbled upon facing criticism from close family members.
“I had completed my high school then but my parents would have none of it. It was a first, no one in our family had done music before hence it was a taboo,” said the soft-spoken Zvanjanja.
Like the rest, he was dismissed with the phrase “magitare ndeemarombe (bands are for the low lives)”.
“It was sad because my interest in music was genuine. It had been that way from my days at primary school in Marondera. I had my handmade instruments destroyed and that was it for me until I pursued my studies,” he recalled.
Music was a dream he had to shelve, at least until he was done with studying. Work ethics could allow for him to reveal much as far as his job was concerned but as of now, he is an accomplished practitioner working in Harare.
Only last month, Zvavanjanja put up an impressive performance alongside popular group Extra Kwazvose. What caught the attention of Herald Lifestyle was not his prowess in performing but his interesting resume.
A strong fan of the late Simon Chimbetu, his style of music is “dendera”. Eyebrows may be raised but the confident musician sees no crime in his admiration for the legendary sound.
“How I make music is that I hear voices from within me and they will be accompanied by the dendera beat. I interpret the voices and come up music, but if one analyses my three albums, they will realise that I have made strides in neutralising that. No one has confronted me about it anyway,”
So far, he has three albums to his name, although he admits that balancing music with his demanding work as a doctor has been a struggle over the years.
In 2010, he assembled a band, The West Echoes, but it was shortlived as he was transferred to a hospital in Chinhoyi.
The following year, however, saw him forming another band, The Ascending Masters, that led to him releasing his first album “Nzira Yehupenyu”.
“I am now based in Harare and have two more albums, Zvaitwa Mhofu (2012) and Shekainah (2013)”, he said.
The weekends present a whole new world for the medical practitioner. He says he enjoys it the most because he hangs his medical instruments for the microphone. He stages family shows at entertainment joints around the city.
“It is not that I do not enjoy my job but music is where my heart lies. I have resolved that my role as a musician resumes during the weekends although it may start on Fridays,” he said.
Zvavanjanja added that he is not ashamed of his hobby and has since opened up to his family and colleges about it.
“My family has now come to terms with my music career. Wives fear the musicians’ lifestyles since they spend time performing in clubs. I, on the other hand, am a God-fearing person.
I am confident I can handle such pressure since I overcome worse temptations daily while in the medical field,” he said.
A father of two girls – Shalom (8) and Roselyn (2) – he vowed to not stand in their way when it comes to career choices. “I am impressed with my growth as a musician. With its growth, I will eventually venture into music full-time,” he said
Online Reporter