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JAH Prayzah turns 29 tomorrow. A private celebration with family and friends and a mega bash at city centre venue, Big Apple, has been planned for this Friday.He will be ably supported by the vivacious and talented singer, songwriter and dancer Ammara Brown.
Jah Prayzah’s mammoth Friday gig, which has become an annual event at Big Apple, coincides with Zora music star Leonard Zhakata’s album launch at the HICC, which features Alick Macheso, Suluman Chimbetu and Peter Moyo.
This clash of gigs should naturally be a major talking point – yet the big story in town right now remains Jah Prayzah’s much-awaited August 12 release of his 7th album titled ‘Mdhara Vachauya’, a product that is still 40 days away.
That the distance between Big Apple and HICC is less than a kilometre and that Jah Prayzah is going against a star-studded line up of musicians is not even the story.
Just what is it about this Uzumba-born gangly musician?
Singer targets
Great Lakes Region
In a well calculated move that could see Jah Prayzah penetrating Africa’s Great Lakes Region where Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz is a big player, Jah Prayzah recently flew to the East African country to record a duet with the artiste.
Jah Prayzah’s song with Diamond Platnumz is titled ‘Watora Mari’.
The Bongo Flava recording artiste, best known for his hit song ‘Number One’, sings mostly in Swahili and Jah Prayzah believes that could be his way up the continent as he seeks to grow his brand and music.
Very few artistes put so much effort into collaborations, yet Jah Prayzah spent seven continuous hours in a studio in Tanzania recording a song with an artiste he had never met before.
“We left Zimbabwe without a song. In fact, we received the instrumental on our way to the airport.
“I tried listening to the instrumental on the plane but I fell asleep, it was 2am. When we got there he was busy elsewhere and I went to the hotel and I wrote a few lines.
“After that I went to his studio WCB Wasafi, where he found me way into the song.
“He asked what I was singing meant and I explained. From there we just clicked, it was auto. We were in the studio from around 8pm to 3am – but it was fun and very enlightening,” said Jah Prayzah.
Jah Prayzah says he was surprised by the humble nature of the Tanzanian artiste.
“When we got to Dar es Salaam we expected to deal with someone with an ego considering his stature in countries like Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania itself.
“However, when we finally met and started working in the studio, we realised he is just a humble guy who loves his music and appreciates new things,” said Jah Prayzah.
What is the strategy
behind the collabos?
“Collaborations are the best way to bigger audiences for any artiste. We collaborate with people out there so that we get known by their fans and they get to appreciate us.
“We have done music here, there is nothing new anymore for us. I have over 30 collaborations with local artistes. But to be known out there, we have to venture out more and collaborate with people that give us new fans, thus new challenges,” explained Jah Prayzah.
He added: “Take for instance Charma Gal, that song ‘Dali wangu’. It was a big hit in Botswana. It gave Charma a lot of mileage in that country, it topped charts. But that song gave us more. It got us into Botswana. We can do gigs anytime in Botswana and we are known.
“It is the same thing with Luciano except that he got us onto major music selling websites, online stores. We may not be in Jamaica yet but Luciano’s serious followers know that there is a Jah Prayzah even though some of them may not understand what I sing.”
Jah Prayzah says his collaboration with Diamond Platnumz produced a very good song.
“Song yacho inonakidza mdhara,” he said, adding “Countries that speak Swahili in Africa are many. So as that song progresses, we progress as well.”
Jah Prayzah’s philosophy
“Work hard, be aggressive, no matter what, just make things happen. With my team we always push each other to do what people think is impossible. Pamwe pacho panotoda nharo, it’s never easy but we keep on doing what we have to do.
“I ask myself at the end of each day, what have l done to push my work, to take myself forward, to become a better man, husband, father, musician and band leader – every single day. If there is nothing I have done then there is something wrong,” he explained.
“One never knows, maybe tave kutopera. We are growing up and maybe there is very little creativity left in us, maybe less energy – so we make hay while the sun shines.”
Not too early for ‘Mdhara Vachauya’?
The question, rather fear, that many of Jah Prayzah’s followers have is that this new effort may have come too early, that maybe he should have waited a bit as his last release “Jerusarema” is still very much in the game.
Said Jah Prayzah: “In the past it used to haunt me. Every time I released an album I would stop and ask myself if the product was good enough or if I was making the right decision by releasing another album when people were still enjoying the previous release – not anymore.
“I have never been as confident about a project as I am now. I believe this could well be my best. So no, it is not too early. God gave me this talent to use it, I’m using it.”
But where does Jah Prayzah’s inspiration
come from?
“Ini nditori nyanduri chaiye (I’m am a poet),” he said.
The ambitious August 12 launch
Jah Prayzah has already proved he can fill up the HICC – twice. The first time was when he launched his album on May 27, 2015 and on December 31 that same year as part of the “Fill Up HICC” concert. He brought Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to an evening concert at the HICC as the guest of honour at his album launch last year.
In 2014, he was made Defence Forces Goodwill Ambassador.
He has already declared his intentions this year by collaborating with Diamond Platnumz but Jah Prayzah and his team want more.
This year’s launch is in three parts.
There will be the Friday August 12 night event featuring superstar Oliver Mtukudzi at the Harare International Conference Centre,
The road trip to Bulawayo the following morning where they are targeting at least 1000 people and the show at Queens Sports Club that evening featuring Winky D and a plethora of other artistes. The road trip has stop overs in Chegutu, Kadoma, Kwekwe and Gweru where CDs will be sold while Jah Prayzah’s new songs are played.
Keen Mushapaidze, Jah Prayzah’s manager, said five 66-seater buses are already full with those taking part in the road trip only paying US$30 for a compound ticket, which gives the participants tickets to both the Harare and Bulawayo launches as well as transport to and from the City of Kings and Queens.
Considering that single tickets to both shows will cost US$10, this means road trip participants using the hired buses are only paying US$10 for a return ticket to the Bulawayo.
“On top of that, the first 500 people to buy Jah Prayzah tickets for any of the gigs will get free t-shirts,” said Mushapaidze.
Besides that, a fridge and a television set will be given away to lucky ticket holders at both the HICC gig in Harare and the Queens Sports Club launch in Bulawayo.
New CD to cost $1
Jah Prayzah and his team have decided to make music affordable to everyone.
“Mdhara Vachauya’ will be sold for just a dollar. We want to make sure that in these tough times everyone gets the music and has a good time,” said Mushapaidze.
Online Reporter