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Prince Mushawevato
WHEN Baba Harare first posted images of his new look after shaving off his signature dreadlocks, some could not help but draw parallels with the biblical Samson parallel.
The book of Judges tells the story of Samson, a strongman with a weakness for women. Delilah learns his secret and deceives him multiple times to gain his trust and eventually betrays him after cutting off his dreadlocks.
While Delilah’s case, a clear manipulation for personal gain, might differ vastly from Baba Harare’s situation, there are some who speculate that his “abrupt” change might have been influenced by a new love interest.
The haircut itself may be a superficial comparison to the deeper story of betrayal in Samson’s tale, but this aligns with a perspective that views women as having an outsized influence on men’s choices.
Baba Harare (35) and a lady, only identified as Becca, are said to be deeply in love and have since engaged. The musician, it is reported, is prepared to do anything for her!
Similarly, Becca, like most women, allegedly influenced much of her fiancé’s decisions, including shaving off dreadlocks and switching to gospel music. The lady features in one of the singer’s latest videos.
In the video, Baba Harare stands in the midst of a women-dominated choral group professing his love for one of its members (Becca). This is not before the situation suddenly turns nasty and the singer is chucked out of the auditorium, with some clearly despising his looks. In an interview with The Sunday Mail Entertainment, the musician opted to remain tight-lipped over the engagement/marriage issue.
“I cannot comment on that for now,” he said.
Music fans have been left dumbfounded after Baba Harare — born Braveman Chizvino — announced a surprising shift in his musical direction. Known for his energetic performances and often suggestive lyrics, the singer has declared his intention to move from secular to gospel music. This sudden change has left many fans questioning his motives.
The nature of his previous music, marked by raunchy dances and innuendo-laden compositions, clashes with the more spiritual focus of the gospel genre.
This has sparked a debate: Is Baba Harare’s decision a genuine reflection of a newfound faith, or are there other underlying factors? While some have accepted and applauded the singer for taking the path of Christianity, sceptics have been quick to speculate over the singer’s health.
“I am very fit. This is the work of God. The only reason I am taking this path is because I realised all things we are doing are vanity. True prosperity is when you are with Jesus and when you have power over sin,” said the City Vibration frontman.
The musician’s history is a testament to his unwavering “risk-taking” spirit. He thrives on pushing boundaries, never shying away from a gamble that could propel him towards a bigger achievement. This was evident in his shocking 2017 decision to leave Jah Prayzah’s high-flying Third Generation band, a move that sent shockwaves through the music industry and left many fans questioning his motives.
The move paid dividends, proving doubters wrong. His solo career flourished, silencing those who predicted his downfall. However, the singer has surprised fans yet again with a decision many feel is a blunder.
“God will make a way; as long as my relationship with Him is perfect, everything will fall in place. With God, nothing is impossible. Remember, it is not all about music; it is about worshipping God.
“So, if you know how great God is, without anyone forcing you or trying to convince you, nothing will scare you,” declared the singer.
Perhaps a deeper shift was brewing beneath the surface. Tell-tale signs of a possible change in lifestyle could have started showing a couple of years back around the height of the coronavirus-induced lockdowns in 2020. During a conversation with this writer, he revealed a surprising change — he had quit drinking entirely.
“I did not see anything fascinating about alcohol or its benefit,” Baba Harare remarked.
Could this have been a turning point, a marker for a long road to personal transformation?
“I wouldn’t say that was really my turning point. But I think God was working on me bit by bit,” he said.
“When I was touring the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany, I was reading the Word of God because I was willing to know the truth about life and our purpose here on earth. It happened that when I was in Australia, I was delivered and saved through reading the Word. I started having a different view on life.”
After some revelations, the musician added pointedly, he decided that he would not be tempted to live a life of sin again.
The comment somewhat showed the “Prove Them Wrong” singer was ready to walk away from the very things that fuelled his artistic success in the past.
“Knowing the truth was my turning point. There are two spirits in life — that of God and Satan. You cannot be neutral and serve both! Being born again is to be a changed person and it is automatic when Jesus is in you. You will feel peace and you will start to hate what God hates and to love what God loves,” he said.
Some decades back, the country lost a gifted singer, Biggie Tembo, aged 37.
The jiti sensation and his Bhundu Boys had made waves across the globe after successfully touring Europe, North America, Australia and some parts of China.
At the time of his death, Biggie Tembo was contemplating ditching music for a pastoral vocation. Unfortunately, in 1995, he hanged himself in a ward at a psychiatric hospital in Harare. The death of his three band members and other personal and social issues are reported to have had a serious toll on the singer. Baba Harare has vowed to maintain his old connections despite his new path.
However, will the musician’s old friends be able to adapt to the new Baba Harare or will this journey force him to seek companionship elsewhere?
“I did not change friends and band members but I am not doing shows for now because I am working on new music — gospel. I have made sure the new music will not make you think of twerking. Also, I am only taking shows that have to do with praise and worship. I will no longer be performing in night clubs or places that compromise my relationship with God. I am not going to be judging anyone; people have the right to do whatever they want. But I will try to tell them the beauty of worshipping. In the same vein, I will not be playing my old songs, even if they are requested. I also advise fellow singers not to play them.”
Baba Harare is set to drop his new gospel album “Repentance” in July. There has been a “minor” shift on the beat. The album draws more from personal experiences.
The group’s drummer and backing vocalist, Desire Mutizira, supports his leader’s decision.
“I am willing to be part of the new journey. I have had a feel of the new songs and it is something that I can work with. But as band members, we need more shows because that is how we get paid,” he said.
Another band member who opted not to be named has adopted a wait-and-see approach.
“I am not sure how this will work out for him and us as a band. If we get bookings and still get paid like in the past, then we will not have issues. However, if less shows will mean less money for us, that will be a signal to leave.”
Online Reporter