‘Heavens have been quite generous’

Mines in Zvishavane more than a decade ago. Dodging misfortunes that included a series of car accidents, Amuli did not lose hope, but held on to his vision of becoming one of Zimbabwe’s sungura giants. Entertainment Editor Ruth Butaumocho (RB) caught up with Amuli (GA) to talk about his new album and his career.
RB: You have got five albums to your name, what has been the public response to your music?
GA: It continues to get better by day and I have seen a gradual transformation from the time that I started music and I have no doubt my life will continue to improve. I began to notice the positive change when I released the albums, “Munombozvigona Sei” and “By Ginya”. The response has been quite good and encouraging.
RB: You recently released an album, “Machena”. Can you tell us more on that?

GA: It contains a number of songs, three of them “Nhai Baba”, “Nyasha” and “Vana Vangu” are gospel tracks, while the remaining ones touch on social issues, love and relationships mainly. I wanted to make sure that my diverse fan base would be able to get at least something out of the whole musical project. Judging the by airplay and reviews from the media, the album could turn out to be a good project as well.
RB: At one time you were in the news as one of the musicians that Alick Macheso labelled as “varondatsimba” (copycats), to the extent of confusing fans over the sungura beat. It is alleged that you are one of the artistes at Gramma Records that was “created” in the studio to come up with a beat that would rival that of Gramma’s former “cash cow”, Macheso, how far true is that?

GA: When Macheso recorded his album, “Vapupuri Pupurai”, I was still in South Africa and he must have been referring to the likes of Njerama Boys and other small outfits that were trying to imitate his beat. I came back from South Africa to record my album, “Wamatuka” and this was well after Macheso had already penned his “Murondatsimba”.
Well, if by any chance my beat then was similar to that of Macheso, it was purely coincidental and had no link to the so-called “scheming activities”, you have just referred to.
RB: Is it true that although you have built a name for yourself in the music industry, fame and fortune have eluded you?

GA: Hameno, ndimi munoona. But from my own point of view, my life is now better than what it was when I went to South Africa. When I returned home in 2006, I boarded a kombi from Jo’burg, all the way to Zimbabwe. But now, I have got two vehicles and several other assets in my name. Things are surely looking up and the heavens have been quite generous.
RB: What does your middle name “Case” mean?

GA: That is a nickname I got. The nickname was derived from those big machines, they call Case.
RB: What do you intend to achieve through your music?

GA: A lot. I enjoy singing and I want my music to make a difference to the lives of people out there, who at the end of the day, do not only appreciate what I do, but can change for the better.
RB: How else did you use to earn your living before you became a musician, and why did you decide to venture into music?

GA: I used to work at Shabani Mashava Mines as an electrician. At the height of the economic meltdown in the country, I left the company and joined the trek Down South. While working there, I began building my instruments bit by bit and would write songs, play the guitar and rehearse whenever I had time off from work.
After two years, I returned home and immediately released “Wamatuka”. By then I had really made up my mind that I wanted to venture into music full time.
RB: You were once arrested for allegedly stealing a friend’s keyboard. Can you shed light on this incident?

GA: Just as well you have brought up the issue. I have been planning on writing a letter to your paper (The Herald) to correct the information and explain what exactly transpired.
Sisi, I have never stolen anything from anyone. What happened was I bought a keyboard at an auction after the first person that bid for it, and paid the deposit had failed to pay the full amount. He must have been angry with this development because he went to Southerton Police Station, opened a docket before disappearing.
Up to this day, I don’t know where the guy is and the docket has since been closed.
RB: Can you shed light on the background of Zvishavane Sounds. It is understood that you are not the founder of the group, and the guy who formed the band is now late. What is the true story?

GA: Yes, I am not the founder of Zvishavane Sounds. When I joined the band, I started off in the Group B team because there was already a band that was being led by Joseph Mtero. (Zvishavane Sounds was formed in the 1980’s as part of the mine’s social responsibility, and as such, the group’s performance was confined to the four bars that were run by the mine as well as playing during functions held at Zvishavane Mine).
Even after he had left the company after some problems, other people took over the leadership of the band, and these included Trevor Madamombe, Njira Tengana and Tellas Osborne. I took over as the leader from 1992 to 2003 until I left for South Africa in search of employment.
RB: How do you see yourself five years from now?

GA: I am planning to groom upcoming artistes, some who are talented but have no resources. I am not at liberty to discuss other bigger plans, lest people might say that I am bragging. But I have got big plans.
RB: In your music, you seem to have a soft spot for vulnerable children, the orphaned, the poor and long distance lovers. Are these issues inspired by personal experiences?

GA: These are issues that are at the core of my heart. Of course, there are one or two issues that are inspired by personal experiences, but societal issues that I encounter on a daily basis inform the rest of the songs.
RB: Tell us about your family, marital status and kids?

GA: I am married to Clara Gutsa and we have four kids – Tembinkosi (15), Bekinkosi (9), Malvern (3) and Edith who is one year and something months old.