Chronicle Editor
Mkhululi Ncube, Showbiz Reporter
A crazy moment after having some few bottles of beer that could have landed him in hot soup with the army band instead landed Ndux Junior’s bassist, Mike Mjapan Dube formal employment with the army.
His bass-strumming skills are influential in Ndux Junior’s songs and coupled with his experience, he is a major asset for him on stage as fans go wild when he breaks into solo bass playing.
One needs to listen to songs such as Uthando Luyingozi, La Esiya Khona, and Goli by Ndux to understand why the soldiers signed him.
“He’s a gifted person who can play almost all the guitars. He’s a very humble person with no fault whatsoever in his work. In the past 12 years working with him, I have no complaint and his dedication in uplifting my band is indisputable,” said Ndux Junior.
The soft-spoken bassist does not remember how and who gave him the nickname Mjapan as he only knows that he earned it through his bass-thrumming skills.
“I was born at Shangani Hospital in 1993 and grew up in Kombo area near Shangani. I attended St Lucy Primary in Shangani and then went to Mashava and Rimuka 2 High School in Kadoma for my secondary schooling. I relocated from Shangani after I lost my parents at a tender age.
“I started playing the guitar in Grade Four using homemade guitars and had a lot of trouble with my parents who didn’t want me to play it as they wanted me to focus on school,” said Mjapan.
While doing Form Two in Mashava, around 2006, he said he had an encounter with Devera Ngwena’s Zhimozhi Jazz Band that was led by Jonah Moyo. It was a resident band at the mine that developed an interest in him when they saw him playing his homemade guitar.
That encounter was a blessing in disguise for the 29-year-old as his skills went on to be horned by Devera Ngwena band bassist, Mdhara Bitu for some time, even though he never played for the band.
“They made me play their electric guitar after seeing that I had potential, even at that young age. We exchanged numbers and one day, they called me to come get an acoustic guitar. It was a special gift as it was my first professional guitar. I valued it so much.
“That band taught me the international tune and Mdhara Bitu was of great help as he gave me the opportunity to play with his electric guitar. My acoustic guitar got lost when I moved to Kadoma and I suspect that my guardians did something to it as they were forever complaining that I was not giving my all at school due to it,” he said.
His strict uncle made sure he stayed away from the guitar although here and there, he would quench his thirst when he met someone playing the guitar, albeit for a short moment.
Mjapan says he was to gain his freedom after completing his O-Level studies and relocating to Bulawayo in 2012 as he met a friend who was looking for a band to play for.
“We had heard of the Cool Crooners and wanted to try our luck with them. We knew there were other very popular bands like Chase Skuza but we feared they were too high up for us to play for. The Cool Crooners told us our music did not fit theirs and so we went back home to Shangani to map a way forward.
“I returned to Bulawayo the same year and met guys who were playing for a band called Hilbrow Stars, but the band did not have enough players.
I managed to hunt for more guitarists and we participated in the Chibuku Road to Fame competitions. We didn’t do well in the competitions, but some guys who were playing with Ndux Junior identified me and linked me with Ndux Junior.
That’s how I joined the Batshele Band and I’ve been with Malax for around 12 years now,” he said.
His career was to take a turn for the best when he was invited by his friend who was a soldier, for drinks at Mzilikazi Barracks during the last days of December 2018. While on their way to the barracks, guitar sounds from the army band which was playing at a joint aroused his curiosity and they were soon inside enjoying the soldiers’ tunes.
“I had had some few beers and ‘shyness and fear of the soldiers was gone’ so I jumped onto the stage and told them I can play the bass guitar. They gave me, but with a strong warning that if I fail they would deal with me.
“It was easy for me because they were playing renditions of other artistes’ music. I performed so well that even the patrons at the place started showering me with money for my skills. After the show, the band’s lead vocalist asked for my phone number and within a few days, I was employed by the army as a civilian guitarist in the army band.
“I’m the only civilian playing with soldiers in the army band. We wear the band uniform not the combat kit when playing so no one can tell if I am a soldier or not,” he said.
While for some this could have seen them ditch their former employer, it was not so for Mjapan as he stuck with Ndux Junior and has been serving him as well without any challenge.
He said since most of Ndux’s shows are held during weekends when he is off from the army band, he is able to serve him without a challenge.
“With the army band, we play for guests during army functions and we also get hired to perform at weddings, birthdays, and other social functions. Playing for Ndux has helped me travel wide and far as we play at many places even beyond the country,” said Mjapan while adding that he hopes to release his own music in the future.
He said playing the bass guitar has been good for him with a steady employment that has helped improve his quality of life.
The father of two challenged parents to support and let children pursue whatever career they are gifted in.
“Parents should support their children in whatever area they are talented in because you never know what will happen in future. I am able to feed my family and support my relatives through playing the guitar, despite the fact that my parents were against it,” he said.
Unfortunately, due to army protocols, the leader of the army band could not give an interview about Mjapan as it took long to get clearance, but he acknowledged that he is in their ranks. — @themkhust
Online Reporter