‘I am not a music god’

Rebecca Nyathi Sunday Leisure Correspondent
HE is arguably the man of the moment in the country’s music scene, but like most young musicians with no family music background, breaking into the music industry for Mukudzeyi Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah was not just a stroll in the park. He is riding on the crest of his career with his recent album Jerusarema, following in the same trend of previous albums, Tsviriyo and Kukumbura Mhute and is working on a movie although details about it remains sketchy.

Hate him or love him, the man is just on top of his game in the music industry although he confesses that the fruits he is enjoying now are a direct product of hard work and a rugged journey that he has travelled.

That he is a multi-talented musician is there for all to see as he can play the guitar, mbira, do the vocals as well as display his nimble footedness with vibrant dances that mesmerises his followers.

His fan base is not only made up of Tom and Jerry but it includes politicians and prominent businesspeople who have been gracing his album launches while others have been splashing gifts at the talented artiste.

In an interview with the Sunday Leisure the lanky musician who is known as Soldier much so because of his love for the combat attire humbly said he was not a music god.
Jah Prayzah said he fell in love with music while he was in Form Two at Kuwadzana High School in the capital.

“In Form Two there was a teacher who played the mbira and I was so much in love with the instrument. We would record the music on cassettes and listen to it,” he said.
He said while he was at school he bought a mbira instrument from a close friend, Tichafa Matsika. He then started to record dancehall and reggae tracks with his friends but nothing fruitful came out. It was just for fun.

In 2007 he decided to venture into his long time hobby, of contemporary music and Afro-jazz, and recorded an album Rudo Nerunyararo which didn’t record much success. He further stated that in 2012, he released Ngwarira Kuparara, which contained club hits such as Gochi Gochi, Maria, Ngwarira Kuparara and Dande, a track which featured the late Chiwoniso Maraire.

Ngwarira Kuparara proved to be the springboard he always dreamt of, from where he somersaulted into the deep ends of his career. It quickly put him in the spotlight and he became a household name as fans rocked to his tracks at home, in clubs and at parties as well.

In 2013, Jah Prayzah scooped the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) for his track Gochi Gochi which was voted Song of the Year and from there, there was no one to stop his success train as he scooped five other awards in a single year, a feat that confirmed him as a force to reckon with in the music industry of the country.

“The Lord continued to bless me. Last year I was awarded five awards for Outstanding Album — Tsviriyo, Outstanding Song — Tsviriyo, Outstanding Male Artist, Outstanding Video — Mwanasikana, People’s Choice Award as well as Male Artist of the Year,” said Jah Prayzah.

Despite his recent success, Jah Prayzah was quick to point out that he has faced a lot of challenges in the industry which have threatened his career but highlighted that he aims to keep following the rainbow up to where it ends.

The gifted artiste stated that he looks up to Oliver Mtukudzi and hopes to be the next version of him.
“I look up to Oliver Mtukudzi and Thomas Mapfumo. I have worked with Oliver Mtukudzi a number of times. While working with him, I learnt a lot and I hope to be as good as he is and to gain international recognition,” he said.

The father of three has been labelled the god of music and accused of taking the love of his fans for granted. He, however, stated that nothing changed in him, instead, he is striving to be better than what he is now.

“I do take criticism but I do not allow it to affect who I am. I also do not allow the negative things that people say about me affect my work. I am not a god, there is only one God worth talking about and that’s the same God who got me where I am right now,” he said.
The talented musician added that he was not rich although he and his family were doing well, financially.

His manager Keen Mashapayidze said neither money nor the celebrity status that he had acquired had changed the musician. He added that he was still the humble Jah Prayzah that people used to know who does not own a house yet.

“Money did not change Jah Prayzah. He is still the humble guy that everyone knew when he started his music career. Financially, he is doing okay. He is taking a step at a time. He hasn’t bought himself a house yet and still rents but people rush into concluding that he is loaded,” said Mashapayidze. Jah Prayzah added that the support he gets from his family, mostly his wife Rufaro Chiworeso, makes him strive for success.

“The support and love I get from my wife keeps me going. She is an understanding person, she supports my career and has been with me through thick and thin,” he said.
He said he was currently working on a movie but could not disclose more details about it.