adminMathew Masinge
ALL eyes are on Jah Prayzah this week.
And, amid this sea of great expectations, there are some who even feel he is on his way to the kind of super-stardom, eclipsing legends like Oliver Mtukudzi.
The artist will launch two albums tomorrow and Saturday.
At 35, argues some of those who are singing in Jah Prayzah’s corner, their favourite artist has already done more, in terms of building his legendary status, than what many of the country’s legends had achieved, at the same age.
An explosive post, by music critic Garikai Mazara, who suggested the likes of Jah Prayzah might never come close to the likes of Tuku, triggered a host of emotions across the music divide.
Mazara suggested the likes of Jah Prayzah were largely local stars who have not been embraced by international audiences, the way Tuku, Mukanya and the Bhundu Boys were embraced.
Former H-Metro Deputy Editor, Charles Mushinga, is one of those who are in Jah Prayzah’s corner.
“I do not think it is fair to compare Jah Prayzah to all of Tuku’s achievements, when Tuku died in his 60s with as many albums, and Jah is only in his 30s.
“I will tell you this though, at 35, Tuku was nowhere near this 35-year-old Jah Prayzah, in terms of both talent and achievements, and even in terms of reach across the world.
“Now, to address your main issue about Zimbabweans attending Jah, Winky or Macheso’s shows abroad, that is really not a measure of the artists’ greatness. Only a colonised mind would reason that an artist’s greatness is measured by the number of white people at their show.”
Mushinga said times have changed from the days when the likes of Tuku, Mukanya and the Bhundu Boys were entertaining cosmopolitan crowds in foreign countries.
“Right now, everyone here in England is getting days off to attend Jah’s show in August.
“We do not care if whites join us and their presence, or absence, is not a measure of Jah’s prowess.
“Times have changed and you are simply refusing to change with these times.
“I work with people from Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Kenya and they all know Jah Prayzah!
“In fact, he is the only Zimbabwean artist they know besides Tuku.
“They laud Tuku for his great song Neria and they do the same for Jah and Mudhara Achauya.
“But not just Mudhara Achauya, also his collaborations with Davido, Yemi Alade, Diamond, and Mafikizolo…”
Mushinga said the world was changing.
“How many Zimbabweans were in England, in Australia when Tuku and Mukanya performed there?
“How many Zimbabweans are in those countries now?
“Do you want them to boycott Jah’s shows in those countries to allow white folk to attend to prove to you that Jah Prayzah is now international?
“Mukanya is still alive, I dare you to organise a show for him that will not be dominated by Zimbabweans anywhere in the world.
“It’s okay not to like an artist but this argument is far-fetched to me.”
He even feels when Jah Prayzah reaches 66, he would have surpassed Tuku and future writers will record his greatness.
“At 66, I believe he would have surpassed Tuku and there will be new journalists who would have seen his greatness unravel that will sing praises of him like you do for Tuku and Mukanya.
“Some of these journalists are not even born yet and that is the beauty of life.
“If whites do not know the vocal prowess of Jah Prayzah or the bass guitar artistry of Alick Macheso, it is their loss.”
Online Reporter