Sundaymail Editor
Prince Mushawevato
Features & Arts Editor
WORLD renowned fashionista-cum-music promoter Edward “Ed” Munyaradzi’s rags-to-riches tale can easily qualify as one of Hollywood’s movie scripts.
The 38-year-old’s success story is just too good to be true.
He has literally seen it all.
The Mount Darwin-born talent grooming expert, survived growing up in poverty, being raised by a single mother and being an illegal immigrant in Europe to become one of the most sought-after designers.
Through grit and hard work, he now rubs shoulders with international showbiz A-listers such as Chris Brown, the Kardashians, P.Diddy, Jay Z and Usher as their preferred designer.
But it is times like Father’s Day that serve as a painful reminder of his rough upbringing.
“My father abandoned us when I was still a toddler. As a result, I had to move places at least 17 times because my mother could not afford to pay rentals all the time,” he recounts.
“She (mother) had to settle for a boarding school so that I was not affected by the constant transfers. Being a hardworking person, she eventually managed to buy a house in Highfield.”
However, Edward is still not proud of how he felt back then.
“Instead of being proud of my mother’s extraordinary achievements under the difficult circumstances, I gave her a torrid time for buying a house in the high-density area. I wanted her to get something in flashy suburbs so that I could be able to blend with my peers at school. I always felt like an outcast.”
Sadly, Edward’s mother passed on in 2000 when his now multimillion-dollar worth Bloc13 Group empire was still a dream.
He feels he could have atoned in a more appropriate way.
But growing up without a father has made him realise the importance of assisting as many people as possible.
“My mother did her best, but things could have been different if she had backing from my father. It was through her unwavering support and that of my brother here, Steve Kagoti, that I am this person.
“I also got some of my inspiration from Nigel Chanakira and Tich Mataz. Chanakira inspired me when he came to Churchill as a former student. I looked at him, his suit, car and colourful profile and I told myself I was going to replicate that. Actually, I wanted to own a bank, but failed because I’m not good at Mathematics. However, here I am. I want to also go to my former school, Churchill, and inspire other kids,” he said.
Edward has since bought houses that were previously owned by the Chanakira family in fulfilment of his high school dreams.
He also owns a house in Los Angeles where he has been based for the past 10 years and has private and business properties in South Africa.
His Bloc13 Marketing Agency has a sister company for music artistes and film called Bloc13 Entertainment, which has signed artistes like Lucas Raps and Yung Seruno from South Africa.
They have signed Kai Cash from the United States (US), who is P.Diddy’s godson, Rehsa and Obi Davids.
Back home, the company has signed Suhn Forever, Denim Woods and Kindly Nash.
He is planning on bring Tamy Moyo on board.
“I am trying to identify talent and give hope to kids and upcoming musicians. I have been away for 22 years and have come back to develop the local music industry. My passion is fashion, but I have created links with international music stars that could benefit local music talent,” he said.
“I want to bring that which makes America tick to the local showbiz. American stars are going to come to Zimbabwe for collaborations. The three artistes we have already signed are now scheduled to travel to South Africa before proceeding to America. I want these youngsters to realise their dreams. We have well-branded and managed artistes like Tamy Moyo that do so much if they have good exposure.”
Steve “Fine China” Kagoti, who is Edward’s brother and public relations manager, weighs in.
“Edward is giving local artistes a highway to the international market. Music is a big industry. In Jamaica, music is one of the leading foreign currency earners and we can do the same in Zimbabwe if the industry is properly managed and marketed,” said Kagoti.
Under the Bloc13 management deal, local artistes will be paid certain allowances per month and will get funding for music and video production.
“We are not out to exploit them. I may not be able to help all of them, but the few that will get exposure and succeed, will be able to assist others in future. That is all I want,” added Edward.
“This is the only way that we can fight crime and drug abuse as a country. I am a father and husband. Also, I have been in a tight spot before and know the temptations and risks involved.”
Apart from scouting music talent, he intends to open a fashion store in Zimbabwe, equivalent to the House of Tre Li in Sandton, South Africa.
STEVE AND EDWARD
But how did his journey start?
From Highfield, Harare, Edward would walk to school in the morning.
He would marvel at fashion designer Karl Kani on the front cover of The Source magazine.
Unfortunately, he could not afford to buy copies of the weeklies, so he used to browse other people’s copies or those on display.
Kani has styled some of music’s greatest artistes like Michael Jackson, Notorious B.I.G, 2Pac, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg and now Bloc13’s own artiste, Lucas Raps.
Edward’s marketing skills managed to hook him up with his idol (Karl Kani) in Los Angeles and they have become close friends.
He has even managed to collaborate Karl Kani and the global women’s fashion brand Pretty Little Thing.
“I crossed into the United Kingdom from Zimbabwe. I started conducting some business and making money, but my stay there was not legit. However, one day, I just developed some guts, went to the home office with a letter telling them I was an illegal immigrant and wanted a legal status.
“After delivering, it only took 48 hours for them to regularise everything. I had given them evidence of the kind of business I was doing and how it was benefiting their country,” he said.
After that, he went to the US and met Jay Z, Chris Brown, Kardashians, among others, through his designs.
“I sell clothes through social media and celebrities see them and look for me. I developed links and would get paid about US$10 000 for every reference I made. At first, I thought I was killing it until someone told me that I was facilitating million-dollar deals for peanuts.”
Online Reporter