Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena, [email protected]
Jiti music fans have thrown their weight behind a potential collaboration between Baba Harare (Braveman Chizvino) and Baba Gweru (Henry Musingarabwi), saying a partnership between the two musicians could unite fans, strengthen the genre and further elevate Zimbabwean music.
The calls emerged after Baba Harare publicly acknowledged Baba Gweru’s contribution to keeping Jiti music vibrant during the period when he shifted his focus to Gospel music.
Baba Gweru, who hails from Gweru, is an emerging Jiti musician who has been steadily building his profile in the local arts sector. He is known for tracks like Ngoma Kurira and Shamhu.
Taking to social media, Baba Harare praised his fellow artiste for carrying the torch for the genre.
“Baba Gweru is such a great stepfather. He really took good care of you (Jiti music lovers). Now that I have returned to my family full-time, how can we thank such a good person?” he wrote.
His comments sparked excitement among fans, with many urging the two artistes to take things a step further by recording music together and sharing stages across the country.
A fan identified as Gweru Massive said a collaboration would be beneficial not only for the artistes but also for the wider music industry.
“We kindly ask you to consider collaborating with Baba Gweru. Bringing together two talented artistes from different cities would not only entertain fans, but also promote unity and grow the Zimbabwean music industry.
“We also kindly ask you to consider hosting a few shows together in Gweru and other parts of the country. Such performances would be a great opportunity to celebrate local talent, support upcoming artistes and give fans an unforgettable experience. We believe this collaboration would be a win for both artistes and Zimbabwean music as a whole,” said the fan.
Another supporter, Eric Masungure, echoed the sentiment.
“You guys really need to collaborate. Your combination would be absolutely top-notch,” he said.
The growing calls for a partnership come as Baba Harare prepares to release his 12th album, Pedzai Navo, on August 1.
The 37-year-old musician described the forthcoming project as a reflection of his personal and artistic growth since returning to Jiti music. He said the album explores themes of love, relationships and everyday life.
“The title Pedzai Navo means a great deal to me. It represents growth, both personally and musically. This is my second album since returning from Gospel to Jiti music, and I believe it reflects how much I’ve evolved as an artiste.
“It captures the different sounds I wanted to experiment with, the lessons I’ve learnt along the way and the direction I want my music to take. I poured a lot of myself into this project, and I believe people will hear that when they listen to it,” he said.
With fans already speculating about possible collaborations on the album, including a potential appearance by Baba Gweru, Baba Harare remained tight-lipped about the final track list.
“At the moment, we’re still finalising the track list as a team. We’ve been working through a few different versions to make sure we choose the strongest collection of songs. Once we’ve agreed on the final track list, we’ll be happy to share it with everyone,” he said.
He also highlighted the role played by the producers who helped shape the project.
“I had the privilege of working with several talented producers, including Nyasha Timbe, Ghost Magician and Taddex, among others.
“Each producer brings a unique sound and creative approach, allowing every song to have its own identity while keeping the album cohesive. I chose to work with them because they understand my vision and consistently bring out the best in my music,” he said.
