Sundaymail Editor
Prince Mushawevato
ORCHESTRA Mberikwazvo’s fans are celebrating the return of star dancer Majuice — born Selemani Mpochi — to the ensemble after a four-week suspension.
The suspension was lifted on Wednesday after he reportedly profusely pleaded for forgiveness. However, the latest incident betrays the underlying crisis among lead dancers within the revered sungura group.
Black sheep
Reports suggest that Majuice was suspended earlier this month after arriving late on stage during a show in Chiredzi. The gifted dancer claimed to have “overslept” at a lodge where other band members were staying. His late appearance naturally irked Alick Macheso’s management, which led to the dancer’s suspension.
But sources privy to the goings-on in the camp claim it was not only this incident that led to his suspension, but his “big-headedness”.
The sungura dancer believed he was untouchable as he considered himself “the third most important” member of Orchestra Mberikwazvo, insiders said.
They further alleged that he often came late for rehearsals and sometimes even missed them altogether.
It was the same case during live gigs.
Majuice was said to have been in the habit of getting on and off the stage as and when he pleased, in violation of standing band rules. A group’s work strategy explained to this writer by some senior band members indicates that they all take equal turns for strategic breaks, which the revered performer flagrantly disregarded.
Often, he would spend a greater part of the show mingling with fans at the expense of his core business — dancing. When he came for rehearsals, it is said, he would cause confusion as he claimed to know everything and refused to take instructions from fellow band members. Prior to his suspension, he was reported to have missed three consecutive shows.
Naturally, his behaviour had started demoralising other Orchestra Mberikwazvo band members who now considered him a “sacred cow”.
“People think that he was suspended for coming late in Chiredzi but that is not the case. Zaiko’s (Majuice) behaviour was getting out of hand. His boastful behaviour was making life difficult for everyone in the group,” said an inside source.
“He clashed on several occasions with management over serious issues and got many warnings. He was now behaving like the owner of Mberikwazvo, yet we are all equal band members.
“Mdhara (Macheso) is a down-to-earth man who takes his work seriously, unlike Majuice. I do not hate him (Majuice), but it is his unruly actions that I despise. You have attended our shows before and I am sure you have witnessed some of the things I am talking about.”
Tich Makahamadze, Macheso’s manager and publicist, said they held a series of meetings with the dancer before giving him a final warning.
“He is now back at work but on a final warning. He made a public apology, claiming to have been fired for reporting late for duty, which was, however, not the entire truth. He knows what he has done wrong in the past,” said Makahamadze.
He, however, could not reveal some of the transgressions.
“It is not wise to wash our dirty linen in the public. We agreed that he needs to respect protocol and the group’s rules and regulations. This is not the first time that we have suspended him.
“If he fails to behave this time around, we will be showing him the exit for good. We once suspended him last year, though we did not make noise about it.
“I hope he has listened to what we said to him. This was management’s decision and we will update mdhara (Macheso),” added Makahamadze.
Majuice acknowledged being offside.
“I am happy and I am a newborn baby. When I say a ‘newborn baby’, I mean I have totally repented. I have reformed and will never be involved in any mischief again. I have used the suspension period to introspect,” he said.
Outside Orchestra Mberikwazvo, the dancer is said to be a thriving entrepreneur with interests in the passenger transport business, fitness training and choreography.
“I am very happy to be back in the family. Orchestra Mberikwazvo is my home and for me to be where I am today — famous and all — it is because of my association with the band. I am delighted to have been forgiven because I was so devastated during the suspension.
“No one brings the best out of me like mdhara (Macheso) does, so I want to thank him and his management, Makahamadze and Lucky Macheso, for giving me another chance to prove myself,” said Majuice.
He said he used the forced break to learn fresh dance moves.
“I have side hustles that include fitness training and grooming young dancers for other sungura bands. But I hope to open a centre to assist budding dancers so that they stay away from drugs.
“I have several other things that I do that I am not at liberty to disclose. I love music and entertaining people. That is what I love doing the most; so, even if I can make a living outside the stage, my life will still be incomplete.”
However, Majuice will not be getting his old post. As it stands, Macheso appears to have ordained Kariba — born Shame Chidewo — as the new lead dancer at Mberikwazvo.
Trend
This is not the first time that Macheso and his management has had run-ins with star dancers. It appears fame quickly gets the better of those he entrusts with the lead dancer position. Remember Peter Kagomera? When nimble-footed Kagomera, a former street kid, was first introduced to Orchestra Mberikwazvo around 2011, he charmed many with his inimitable mind-blowing gyrations. He instantly became a star. Kagomera partially took over the lead dancer role, which in a way created animosity between him and Majuice, who was then still trying to solidify his position after Franco “Dhaka” Slomo’s exit. Kagomera failed to handle the fame and “riches” as he quickly developed numerous relations with women of easy virtue. He became infamous for “marrying” a new wife every Monday after getting his dues and “divorcing” during the week when he became penniless.
It got worse.
He also started absconding gigs and rehearsals and would only be available when it best suited him.
Eventually, Kagomera was excommunicated.
His efforts to rejoin the group thus far have been in vain. Similarly, Slomo, who was Orchestra Mberikwazvo’s star dancer for a long time, unceremoniously dumped the group in favour of Suluman “Sulu” Chimbetu’s Orchestra Dendera Kings.
The dancer cited poor remuneration as the reason he had to leave.
Apparently, some fans continuously “advised” him to demand a larger stake from Macheso since he was “indispensable”.
Abel Ndooka
Online Reporter