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MUSIC promoters and pundits have expressed mixed feelings over mass exodus of influential musicians who this year dumped Mutare for Harare in search of greener pastures. One of the most talented urban groovers, Wiriranai Maenda, popularly known as Juicer Mpostori whose unique beats and voice endeared him with a legion of fans across Mutare, Ragga Manyika outfit Assegai Crew, gospel diva Agatha Murudzwa who got married to Pastor Ndembera and Memory Madekurozva (The Antiques) are some notable names of artistes that left for Harare and established their musical base there.
Interestingly, Hosiah Chipanga and Simba Muchita (Hungwe Stars) once migrated to the capital city and came back home with a story to tell. The grass was not greener the other side.
Chipanga moved to Chitungwiza at the zenith of his musical career, remember Kwachu Kwachu? Those days he could afford to house and cater for most of his band members there. He made good bucks. Shows started dwindling and he came back to Mutare.
“Honestly, Harare is better than Mutare. I strongly agree with the musicians’ move to the capital city because local promoters do not support local talent. They don’t want us. We are better than most musicians in Harare, but local promoters are so much in love with Harare-based artistes. I was a better musician when I was in Harare and became a pauper when I came back here. There are a lot of venues and numerous promoters up there. If it was not for my church (MAPIPI) I would not have come back here,” Chipanga said.
Promoter and Entertainment consultant Obey “Big Fish” Hove justified the musicians’ shift to Harare saying music in Mutare was no longer paying and some promoters were not dedicated to promoting local talent.
“Let them go. It’s better because there are only two or three promoters who are trying to support local musicians and in most cases they would operate on a loss.
“Harare is better because there is competition and there is room to grow,” said an award-winning music promoter.
Frank Mandala, show promoter and Club Oasis director, said although it was sad that one of the shining stars in local music and Zimunya celebrity Juicer Mpostori had left the eastern border city, it was a good move for him and other artistes.
“They need exposure. They need to grow. Harare is the capital city, they have so much to learn up there and I wish them the best. People in Mutare do not really support music. They do not have a tendency for fun,” said Mandala.
Gwinyai Bar proprietor and show promoter Given Shumba said local promoters should play a role in supporting own jewels of the city and help promote the industry other than discouraging and facilitating musicians to move to other cities.
“I do not think moving to Harare was necessary,” Shumba said.
“But they had no option. The blame is on us. Artistes need our support. It’s sad that they left for Harare because we did not give them necessary support to keep going. The onus is on us promoters to retain few musicians we are left with by addressing their needs,” he said.
Kunashe Studios founder and producer Olin Anderson said it was a wrong turn.
“It was a bad move. Assegai Crew and Juicer Mpostori were not patient. Look at what Chipanga did. He might not admit it but he came back to Mutare empty handed and when he came back in Mutare, no one trusted him again and no one has been supporting him thereafter. Look at Blessing Shumba, he has been successful in Mutare,” he said.
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