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Godwin Muzari Entertainment Editor
Afro-fusion group Mokoomba is an embodiment of the biblical allegory about a prophet performing miracles in foreign lands, yet unable to convince souls in his hometown to visit his shrine. That Mokoomba last weekend bagged another international award to add on to its glittering silverware cabin is testimony to the group’s growing foreign influence while their bid to soon go it alone at a show in Harare is evidence of an unimpressive tale of an unfruitful toil back home.
Mokoomba last week won a ZIMAA award in the United Kingdom, barely two weeks before the group travels to the same country to accept a Songlines Music Awards accolade for Best 2013 Newcomer for their album “Rising Tide”.
When the Victoria Falls group travels to the UK next week, they will share the stage with international artistes like Angelique Kidjo and other stars who will be honoured at the ceremony.
Such a feat is just a tip of the iceberg frozen with firm achievements in foreign missions since the group scooped the first prize at Music
Crossroads Inter-regional finals in Lilongwe, Malawi, in 2008 to announce their motive of conquering the world through music.
But the group is still to make considerable impact back home to reflect their fabulous international tale.
On December 19, Mokoomba take to local battle through a show at the 7 Arts Theatre where they share the stage with Selmor Mtukudzi, in an attempt to win souls back home.
The group has held numerous small shows locally and attracted a select crowd that identifies with Mokoomba’s international success either through foreign origins or by association.
The group is still to taste honey from the local mass market hive even in terms of album sales and airplay. The December 19 show becomes their debut big show and first major stride in testing the real waters of the homeland music sea.
Sadly, the group has to do the show without the much-needed material support because local music promoters shun the group. For a group that has graced the coveted Telecel Main Stage at the Harare International Festival of the Arts, one of which appearances was a collaboration with Senegalese legend Baaba Maal, Mokoomba’s story is un- usual.
Mokoomba manager Marcus Gora said the group has decided to go it alone and try to make an impact in the face of rejection.
“We have always hoped that local promoters would consider us for big shows and help us penetrate the local market,” he said.
“The promoters either exploit us or simply ignore our plight. One promoter invited us to a big show featuring an international artiste, but refused to pay us. He said it was an opportunity for us to showcase our capacity on a big local stage. We felt demeaned, but we went for the show.
“We have done some shows in small venues before capacity crowds and performed at Hifa, but the journey on local soil has not been good.
“We have realised that we will not be able to make it locally if we wait for promoters to hire us as supporting acts at big shows.
“We have decided to make our own big shows and try to drive our point home. We have confidence in our music quality and stage performance, yet that confidence is being eroded because we are underrated locally.
“We will go it alone until we conquer because we risk eternally lacking local relevance if we do not work on our own.”
While other musicians that made it on the international market including Oliver Mtukudzi, the late Chiwoniso Maraire, Bhundu Boys, Stella Chiweshe and Thomas Mapfumo also got massive local recognition, Mokoomba remains an outcast on home soil.
With good music, exceptional choreography and international appeal, Mokoomba’s local market penetration remains a jigsaw puzzle.
Online Reporter