Online Reporter
Trust Khosa, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
Sungura musician Romeo Gasa has returned from the United Kingdom just in time for the farming season.
The 38-year-old singer, who had joined his wife abroad, could not hide his passion for farming, a pursuit he has enjoyed for many years.
Gasa assured fans that he plans to dedicate himself to music full-time in Zimbabwe next year after wrapping up the farming season.
‘‘I came back home recently, just in time for the planting season, as I run a plot in Chinhoyi,’’ he emphasised.
‘‘I have been keeping a low profile while recording my eighth album in Hatcliffe, but I frequently visit my plot to monitor its progress. In fact, I love farming because it’s something instilled in us as we grew up.
‘‘As a creative, one must have a fallback plan and not put all their eggs in one basket. Gate takings and other performance fees would never be enough for our upkeep.’’
The Extra Valembe frontman expressed no shame in sharing his passion for farming with his fans.
‘‘It’s something I am proud of, and I don’t care what others say – I thoroughly enjoy farming activities. I think the Covid-19 lockdown should have taught many people to work hard and prioritise side hustles. It’s quite unfortunate that most people have yet to discover this.’’
The Chinhoyi-bred singer also revealed that he plans to spend much of his time in Zimbabwe next year.
‘‘My family is based in the United Kingdom, and I will be visiting them here and there, but I will be in Zimbabwe doing music and farming.
“I wanted to clear the air because last time it appeared I would never come back home, or that I had left my band members in limbo.
‘‘I was always in touch with the boss, and we have a couple of shows coming up, but our main focus at the moment will be on recording new songs so that we don’t end the year empty-handed,’’ he pointed out.
Gasa also told this publication that he had accomplished some of his projects during his time in the United Kingdom, where he stayed for over a year.
‘‘Like I said earlier, my farming project suffered when I was away, and it is high time that I revive it.
“As you know, farming requires a lot of hands-on work and seeing things on the ground.”
‘‘I will only be visiting my family here and there in the United Kingdom, but I will be based in Zimbabwe because I have managed to acquire some of my targets overseas,’’ he shared.
Unpacking the title of his eighth album named ‘‘Muvhimi Wedoro,’’ which can be loosely translated to ‘‘beer hunter,’’ Gasa quickly shot down claims that he was promoting alcohol abuse.
‘‘The title of my album encourages people to be focused, as is the case with beer lovers who go out of their way in search of better options. Beer lovers might not have money leaving home, but when they return, they will be drunk.
‘‘All I want is for people to have faith in their hustles to achieve their goals and to prioritise good things in life,’’ he explained.
The singer has urged revellers to take responsibility for their actions.
‘‘The festive season will always be there, and I urge Zimbabweans to avoid driving under the influence of alcohol.
“As for Christmas and New Year’s holidays, we need to remain calm all the time because we’ve always celebrated these occasions since time immemorial. We should never get too excited, as these holidays will always be there,’’ he noted.
Gasa, who participated in the Chibuku Road to Fame talent search program, which he won in 2007, has been recognized as one of the sungura game-changers. He belongs to the same generation of new sungura stars, including Simon Mutambi, Mark Ngwazi, and Peter Moyo, among other promising musicians.
