Online Reporter
Freedom Mupanedemo
I grew up sharing a bedroom with my uncle, Danias Shanga, he liked Sungura music but he, especially idolised Madzibaba Nicholas Zacharia.
Uncle Shanga was born with a disability and walked on crutches. He would hang his small one deck Seiko radio around his neck and make it dangle, albeit, precariously when walking and travelling.
But to have the radio play the music was pyrrhic victory. His day started by joining together a hodgepodge of old rechargeable batteries, tying them together with rubber, strings and little everything else, to pool enough power.
At times the batteries were roasted on sun-heat to gain power, whichever science he used, eventually made him play Nicholas Zacharia’s music. It was pyrrhic victory.
We were to a cocktail of Nicholas Zacharia and the Kiama Boys.
Uncle Danias was once banned from visiting his brother Bonias Shanga (MHSRIP) in Bulawayo’s Nkulumane house because every time he visited, he would steal brother’ Kiama Boys cassettes.
Day in day out, night in night out we would listen to Madziba songs and I grew to love that music by association and continued exposure.
I remember as a kid, sneaking out of the house to go watch Madzibaba’s live performance in Maglas, Zvishavane. It was my very first time attending a live musical show and till today that was the shortest night vigil life.
I enjoyed every second of it, a legend of Sungura, a lead guitar and lead vocals maestro sweating it out on stage all night for me and fellow fans!
I was later to become a journalist, I never liked writing entertainment stories, largely because of the induction I had the first day I entered Chronicle newsroom as an intern under the no nonsense News Editor then, Mkhululi ‘Mkeys’ Sibanda.
But whenever Madzibaba came to the Midlands I would muscle my way through the cheeky bouncers manning gates at Midlands Hotel in Gweru.
I remember pushing and shoving with this other heavily built bouncer at one of Madzibaba shows who argued that there were already many journalists who had entered into the show.
I was determined, I had to call the hotel owners and later got into the show through the VIP gate.
And even after a whole night of fun I would shake off the lethargy of sleep to write glowingly about the last night fun.
I loved Madzibaba, I liked his music. We never met personally but i was and will remain a big fan of your music. Go well King of Sungura!
