adminWeekender Correspondent
A BLEND of renowned Harare-based and local musicians will tomorrow (Saturday) converge at Courtauld Theatre to celebrate the life of one of urban grooves music pioneers and award winner, Nyika Jamal Mataure, who died in October last year.
Mataure, famed for hit song Kurwizi which features songstress Betty Makaya, departed to another world after suffering from motor neuron disease for years.
Tony D, Dino Mudondo, Sani Makhalima, Maskiri, Good Child, Pah Chihera, Extra Large, Pauline, Mzimba, Victor D, Taurai, Noble Stylez, Legend Elly, Juntal, MK47, TMG, Kritic Igwee, Flexso, Tuff Nuff, Smba Gee, Kay G40 form part of the list expected to perform at the gig dubbed: Kurwizi commemoration.
If hosted successfully, the gig will be one of the historic commemorations ever to happen in Mutare. Proceeds of the show will be channelled to Jamal’s family.
Several musicians interviewed by The Weekender pledged to put their all in the shows, saying they were celebrating the life of one of the successful composers, keyboardists and singers ever to emerge from the Eastern border city.
Rising jazz diva and Ndirwo rudo hitmaker Pah Chihera promised a scintillating performance in honour of the late revered and youthful composer.
“I was born ready. I promise love and fireworks remembering one of our own whose musical career was an inspiration to all of us,” she said.
Chihera won’t be coming with her full band but will instead hire Ragga Manyika outfit Assegai Crew.
The Makoikoi carver, Dino Mudondo, said the gig would enable him to mix and mingle with his rasta-kwasa fans in Mutare.
“I will be dishing out my old classics like Maidei, Paidamoyo, Bhazi, Chirangano, Ndichakumirira, Jatropha as well as some of my brand new material from my 17th album Madzokoyi “The Return”.
Today it’s Jamal and tomorrow it could be me or you, so I call upon people to come in their numbers in commemoration of one of us,” said Dino.
Local rapper Kritic Igwee had this to say: “Well are looking at the artistes that are coming through, I would say people should expect fireworks.”
Mercy Kaminyu, popularly known as MK47, and Jamal, who formed a powerful combination and did three songs together which are Matindingoma, Zororo and Why, said she was looking forward to perform at the fun-filled gig.
One of the organisers of the event and musician, Ras Henry Tsopotsa, said Jamal deserves such a high-profile commemoration concert.
“He loved his music. He worked with a lot of musicians. He put Mutare in the limelight after releasing the chartbuster Kurwizi. He loved his keyboard and he was always willing and ready to work with everyone.
“We are proud to host such an event for him.
“He deserves it,” the multi-talented artiste said.
Jamal was born on July 17 in 1976 in Mozambique. He did his primary education at Rujeko.
He pursued his secondary education at Mount St Mary’s in Hwedza. He later pursued on his music career, after leaving school, and did collaborations with various musicians before releasing album Ghetto in 2003, which carries the smash hit Kurwizi, which features Betty Makaya.
He was a talented keyboardist and before his ill-fated illness, he was on the verge of releasing a comeback album which was produced by a Mozambican producer and carries tracks like Baba tavakunorara, Mira padoko, Menina and Mwana wechikoro. He could not live to release the album.
He also did a compilation project which carries some of his works.
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