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Arts Reporter
Last Saturday Zimdancehall singer Freeman launched the album “Gango” at Old Hararians Sports Club where fellow artistes took to the stage to entertain guests.
The launch attracted top dancehall artistes like South Africa-based Buffalo Souljah, Tocky Vibes, Jah Master, Blot, Maggikal and also saw hip hop musician T-Gonzi and Jiti player Baba Harare taking to the stage.
Their presence left Freeman, born Energy Sylvester Chizanga, on cloud nine with his song “Ngaibake” featuring sungura ace Alick Macheso emerging a crowd’s favourite among the 10 tracks that make his project.
It appears Freeman was surprised by the overwhelming attention that the song attracted from fans at the launch, even though Macheso was in South Africa for a show on the day.
The statement that the song made on the day of “Gango” launch proved that “Ngaibake” was not only a mere composition, but a track laden with rich messages and lessons, not only for Zimdancehall followers, but to other musicians.
“Ngaibake” has rich lyrics, which if listened to carefully can go a long way in stamping against violence, which has since become the second name for the genre.
Over the years, dancehall in the country has been associated with violence, and some have even gone to the extent of producing songs that encourage hostility.
On the song, Freeman and Macheso vividly declared that it was time for a change in music.
They encourage the genre’s followers to desist from old ways of doing business, and pursue other means that bring happiness to all.
The two musicians preached tolerance, a phenomenon which has not been existing between the followers of sungura and dancehall.
HKD Boss and Baba Shero, as the two are known in music circles, encouraged both musicians and their fans to tolerate each other and accept that they need each other in the industry.
Diversity was also brought to the fore in “Ngaibake” with the two artistes pin-pointing to the need of bringing variety on the album, especially when Macheso added his Chewa trademark to the song.
Other songs that Freeman and other musicians are equally good, but “Ngaibake” proved to be a cut above them considering the manner it was produced and the impact it is likely to make on the ground.
Freeman featured Yadah Voices on a gospel track “Ndofirapo” and did a collaboration with Black Warrior on “Musiye”.
Bounty Lisa featured on “Makanika”, a love song that dwells on a lover, who wants to be treated well in their relationship.
Other songs that sum up the album are “Mudzanga”, “Hoyo”, “Miridzo”, “Ngoma Iyo” and “One Munhu”.
Online Reporter