Macheso relegated

Daisy Jeremani
THE joy of marrying off his eldest child could have been the cushion to another heart-breaking year for sungura giant, Alick Macheso.
The Nama nominees were ironically announced the same Wednesday afternoon Macheso and his in-laws were gathered at his Waterfalls home to marry off his daughter – Sharon.

The celebrated artiste’s name has not appeared on the Nama nominees list for three years in a row. This emboldens his detractors’ assertions that “Macheso apera/UMacheso sephelile.”

It is a huge blow for a man who has featured prominently in this nation’s premier awards since their inception in 2002.

Will his much-awaited album redeem his last effort – Kwatakabva Mitunhu (Kure KweKure), which bombed and saw him in the dilemma he is today. Winning and filling up halls across the country was synonymous with his name. His disappearance from the music radar could be a nightmare for the artiste.

For someone who won and dominated from the inaugural Nama this surely could be nightmarish.

His enduring album, Zvakanaka Zvakadaro, vindicated his decision to leave Sungura Boys after it landed him a gong in the Best Selling Album category. He repeated the same feat the following year. The event was not held in 2004, but in 2005 his album Zvido Zvenyu Kunyanya was crowned Best Selling Album.

So it had become customary to fans and foes alike to expect Macheso to win or at least get nominated as was the case in 2008 and 2011.
The year 2008 saw him being nominated in three categories, Outstanding Musician/Group, Outstanding Song and Outstanding Album Ndezvashe Eh! He only won in Outstanding Musician/Group pipping Oliver Mtukudzi and Shingisayi Suluma. Although he was nominated in three categories in 2011 the fiery bassist went home empty handed. However, that was not really a loss, as even internationally, nomination is an honour in itself

Three years without being nominated after scaling dizzy heights is worrying for any musician worth his salt. Will Macheso rise from the ashes or will he be relegated to the musical dust bin? Only time will tell.