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Yeukai Karengezeka Entertainment Reporter
Experienced musician Nicholas Zakaria, famed for nurturing stars in the music industry, is nursing a bleeding heart wounded by a string of misfortunes that characterised his 2013 musical exploits. Nicknamed “Senior Lecturer” because of his experience, the musician has had to endure a tumultuous year in the face of rejection, dwindling fortunes and futile adventures.
He began the year with a surprise turn from his apostolic sect, where he got the title “Madzibaba”, to a pentecostal church, apparently in search of a new form of intercession.
But answers to his prayers seem to be drifting further.
In an interview with Herald Entertainment at his rehearsal venue at Chi-kwanha Shopping Centre in Chitu- ngwiza on Tuesday, Madzibaba bared his soul about his hard times this year.
“I am only affording to buy bread for my family and pay my workers,” he said.
“I no longer hold shows in Harare because promoters that used to faithfully assist me have moved to other businesses.
“Most of the remaining promoters are not sincere. They are after business. I used to work with them and they made a lot of money but I am now like an outcast. They no longer want to work with me.
“Zimbabwe no longer has real promoters. They do not have the passion to assist musicians”.
Madzibaba said business used to be better in mines and remote areas when he first performed there, but things were now getting tough.
“We have retreated to the mines but there have been numerous retrenchments at these establishments and numbers continue to drop at our shows. People have either relocated or do not have money to attend shows.”
The 56-year-old said he had shelved recording an album this year because piracy seriously affected his previous album. Although piracy is a common challenge among musicians, Madzibaba is so bitter that he at some point decided to quit recording for good.
He says he will only record for the sake of his fans.
“Last year I suffered losses after my album was out because the following day pirated copies flooded the streets.
“It is so painful and sometimes I feel it is not necessary to record anymore. But I will be in the studio next year for a new six-track album.”
Things seemed to move in the right direction last year when Madzibaba planned to build a music academy. This bleak year has kept everything stagnant and the musician is heartbroken.
“The city council wants me to pay US$1 050 to complete the paperwork for the project but I have not managed to raise that amount throughout the year.”
The sungura artiste thought this year would be a smooth sail when he was appointed Cultural Ambassador of Chitungwiza last year by former Chitungwiza Town Clerk Godfrey Ta- nyanyiwa, but everything went off the rails when the clerk was arrested.
“I am not operating in my office yet as an ambassador because Tanyanyiwa who appointed me has been jailed.
“I thought the role would assist me get access to some important things that I need for my career and project. I am still negotiating with the new clerk to complete the process.
“The only thing that is left is the certificate of agreement from the council. Once it is issued, I will able to start working on my projects.”
Tanyanyiwa, who was convicted of swindling the council of over US$80 000, is serving a two-and-a-half- year jail term
Madzibaba believes that next year will be a better year for him with many business prospects.
“Next year will be my year and already there are five upcoming artistes who want to collaborate with me in the likes of Simon Mutambi.
“I’m calling for all genuine well-wishers who want to help me achieve my dream to come froward,” he said.
In this year the Senior Lecturer has faced challenging times.
In February he was accused of assaulting a police officer at one of his shows in Kwekwe, but the charges were later dropped.
Innocent Mjintu, former member of the late Leonard Dembo, accused Madzibaba of rising to fame through manipulating Dembo’s instruments when he was ill.
In March, he moved from the apostolic sect to a pentecostal church called Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries(PHD) saying he needed access to the Bible that he was denied at his former church.
However, the festive season could change fortunes for Madzibaba when he goes on national tour with Oliver Mtukudzi.
“Mtukudzi is someone who has been all over the world, has international accolades and can afford the luxury of being selective when it comes to music shows, but he is not.
“He performs anywhere in this country and that is why this combination with him is so important because we will visit many places with him,” said Madzibaba.
The combination begins this Saturday with a show at Mutangaz Hideout in Ruwa. They are also expected to collaborate in Chiredzi, rural Matabeleland, Mutare, Masvingo and Gweru.
Online Reporter