Online Reporter
Rosenthal Mutakati-Assistant Editor
VERY few Zimbabweans do not know a chart-buster called “Mabhauwa” which, like a veld fire, swept across this southern African nation, catapulting Khiama Boys and its frontman Nicholas “Madzibaba” Zakaria to stardom.
Penned by the now late Cephas Karushanga, leaning on the vocal prowess of the now late Fanuel “System” Tazvida, enlaced with Madzibaba’s deft lead guitar touch and Alick Macheso’s booming bass guitar, the song captured the imagination of the nation, compelling listeners to the dancing floor.
“Zvekukechwa-kechwa ini handimbozvifarira,” went the chorus of the song which endeared the Khiama Boys with music lovers across the length and breadth of Zimbabwe.
Like many successful projects, the song sadly spawned splits with Karushanga and Tazvida tearing away from Khiama Boys to form their Mabhauwa Express and Chazezesa Challengers outfits, respectively, which enjoyed huge success until the demise of their leaders.
Madzibaba did not despair.
He remained strong after recruiting more firepower and continued to light up Zimbabwe’s music scene.
The then burly, goatie-bearded and left-handed lead guitarist went on to hog the limelight with the track “Chikumbiro”, a Shona word for request, in which he asked God why there was less rainfall and more deaths around the time when HIV/Aids was wiping away people across Africa owing to the absence of a vaccine.
Without wasting time, Madzibaba unleashed another scorcher called “Chikara” in which he likened HIV/Aids to a predatory beast that was killing the masses.
“Zvikara zvaityisa zvese zvemusango zvakapera, zvakazaririrwa mumipanda zvakanaka. Kwaiva nenzou mukuru wesango, kwaiva neshumba chikara chedondo. zvese izvi zvakapera, kwasara chikara chimwechete (All predatory beasts of the wild are no longer threats. They were confined to their enclosures. There was the elephant the ruler of the jungle and the lion the biggest predators. All these are now under control except HIV/Aids),” sang the goatie bearded lyricist as he topped the local music charts. A gifted composer, Madzibaba was not yet done. He went on to compose the song “Ndine Mubvunzo (I have a question)” in which he argued that God created a man and a woman, but he shuddered to know where the Chikunda, Somali, Ndebele, Kalanga and other tribes came from.
Armed with such a rich catalogue of songs, Madzibaba staged many sold out shows across Zimbabwe and Southern Africa and continues to do so to this day.
He has also unleashed countless songs and albums that let the lion in him roar.
That Madzibaba Zakaria nurtured countless musicians and dancers is not a secret.
Big names like Alick Macheso, System Tazvida, Amon Mvula, Aaron Chinamira Chakanyuka, Cephas Karushanga and Zakaria Zakaria came from his tutelage, hence the name “Senior Lecturer”.
“Ida Anokuda”, “Tsamba” and “Mabvi Nemagokora” are among his classics.
The man also has great love for the reggae beat. He also popularised Chewa songs to cater for the Chewa community which is a great proportion of the nation’s population.
Most of his projects went gold. He sang a lot of great songs counselling moral rectitude and the need for people to return to God, notwithstanding his stature as a devout christian.
Despite all this success and great contribution to the music industry, the man is lying sick and in need of help. Such heroes indeed need help to continue making sweet music. He gave his best and deserves the best.
Indeed as playwright Willam Shakespeare wrote, “If music be the food of life, play on.”
