adminMelissa Mpofu Showbiz Editor
TOP South African afro-soul musician Ringo Madlingozi has expressed concern over Kudzai Sevenzo’s failure to make an impact in the music industry saying she could be as successful as Berita considering her talent. Sevenzo, whose music is a fusion of jazz and soul, rose to fame in 2005 after she auditioned for Mnet’s reality TV show, Project Fame in which she was chosen as the sole representative for Zimbabwe. She made it to the penultimate round and shortly after, released her debut album, On a day like this which was promising.
From there, she released another album, Child of Afrika in 2010. Ever since, she has been focusing more on her acting career and performing at private corporate functions. Ringo, who was in the country at the weekend to celebrate Oliver Mtukudzi’s 40 years in the music industry, said Sevenzo, whom he mentored, had let him down as her brand could have easily been celebrated like Berita.
“Berita is doing quite well in relation to South Africa. Her collaborations with established artistes such as Bra Hugh, Oskido and Tuku have really taken her places. She’s getting there. I thought Kudzai was going that way, but she just decided not to,” said a concerned Madlingozi.
“I really wanted her to learn how to play at least one musical instrument so I spoke to her and said: ‘Kudzai, take the guitar home, play it and sing.’ Then all of a sudden, Berita just came and did exactly what Kudzai should have been doing. Now Berita is getting numerous awards and I really love that she’s going to school while concentrating on her music.”
A duet Ringo had planned to do with Sevenzo two years ago never materialised as Sevenzo is said to have disappeared, just like most artistes Ringo claims to have approached. The duet would have been incorporated on Ringo’s album.
“I met this young lady Kudzai Sevenzo and we agreed to work on something and she vanished into thin air.” Besides Sevenzo, Ringo said he had planned to collaborate with the late Chiwoniso Maraire and Andy Brown.
“I really wanted to do something with Andy, he died, Chiwoniso and she died. I also wanted to work with the Michael Jackson of Harare (Macheso) who I spoke to about two years ago. We agreed to make it happen and I couldn’t get him when it was time to make the magic.
“The challenge with most of these artistes is that when I come to Zimbabwe, they’re rarely available. A collaboration is no big deal to me because all it takes is to approach Tuku and ask to use his Pakare Paye studio and we record. “By now we could’ve recorded so much stuff but I’m confident it’ll happen one day.”
He said artistes needed to appreciate the power of collaborations as they create opportunities, adding that his collaboration with Tuku years ago was fruitful.
“Collaborations are very effective as Tuku and I caused pandemonium at the HICC immediately after we did Into Yami in 2006. It was my first time there and so many people were interested in me. I know that wouldn’t have been the case if it weren’t for the collaboration.
“Also back in South Africa, the people love Tuku as our voices work wonders together. Tracks such as Todii are loved by many and Tuku is quite big in South Africa,” said Ringo. “Each time I perform Into Yami, people in South Africa perform Tuku’s part in his absence.”
Ringo said artistes needed to perfect their performing skills as their money lies there, not CD sales. “The trick to making money as an artiste is to perform, and do it well. There’s so much piracy the world over which is impossible to curb. But pirates can’t pirate when you’re performing, they’ll have no option but to pay to watch you in action.
“Also, one needs to be up to date with technology, things such as downloads and uploads…our money lies there. Confusing as it is, artistes need to constantly upload their music on iTunes as they’ll be paid for each downloaded track or album,” Ringo said. As a result of latest technology, Ringo said up-and-coming artistes were making more money than them.
“Young artistes are making more money than we used to. Overnight, someone is a millionaire and I’m sitting here wondering how they did it. They’ll be like, I sold two of my songs to 12 million people so it’s important that one understands how new media works.” On Tuku’s celebrations, Ringo said he was glad to have been part of the milestone.
“It’s good to have celebrated my brother’s legacy – 40 years. I’m glad it’s happening when we’re still breathing. People seem to be celebrating each other post-humorously these days yet we should do it while we’re still alive,” he said.
Online Reporter