adminArron Nyamayaro
“MY guitar is loaded with Bible verses, whenever I tune and play it before the crowd, it calls one to repent.”
Alick Macheso said this in a wide-ranging interview with H-Metro, narrating his musical journey, as he celebrates 55 years tomorrow.
Macheso described his bass, rhythm and lead guitars as the Bible he opens with hymn songs meant to heal many souls.
“I hardly find time to attend church services since most of my time I will be ministering on various stages set for me to preach through music,” said Macheso.
“Pandinoribata gitare rangu rinoita idzva zuva nezuva ropakura mashoko anorapa mwoyo.
“I do not repeat songs but every song has a message, like Bible verses and chapters loaded with history names as it is written in the Bible.
“Mumwe anonzwa pfimbi yemashoko akaurungana anepfuma yeChishona zvose izvi handina pandakazvidzidza asi kuti ndinozarurirwa mashoko edzidziso.
“I am sure that my stamina, energy to go through Borrowdale Dance, is meant to send a message to those who hear.
“All my songs have some messages which deal with many issues in life.
“There are times when I fail to complete some of my songs on stage, weeping, recalling my life story.
“Misodzi yangu inoyerera ndichiimba nekuti ndinenge ndavekuwona upenyu hwangu hwose.”
Macheso disclosed his real surname in one of his songs.
“Mubhabheri munemazita evanhu zvekuti vanorava magwaro vamwe vacho havazvinzwisise kuti akanyorerwei.
“Ndizvo ndizvo muma songs angu vanhu vanonzwa ndichiti Maenela.
“Maenela is my real surname and Macheso was husband to my father’s aunt, who facilitated my acquisition of a birth certificate.
“You cannot easily change your birth details although I was nearly tempted to change mine but because of history I rested my case.
“Life is full of daily issues and some of the issues are loaded in my songs and hidden in my guitar, so when I tune it I try to hit the right codes.”
He added: “I try to simplify my messages like one sharing a sermon before a congregation and sometimes my audience hears me shouting Hallelujah on stage.
“My wife is a staunch follower of Johanne Masowe but I hardly attend church services although I put my faith in God who gave me strength, wisdom, grace and power to become who I am today.
“Ndinotya Mwari, handisati ndamugonera asi zvimwe zvacho zvandinowona zvichiitwa nevanhu vaMwari zvinowodza mwoyo, zvinosindimarisa mwoyo yevanhu kuti vasaswedere kunyasha,” said Macheso.
Macheso told H-Metro that he hardly plays music in his car when travelling since that is his time to capture life issues pregnant in most of his songs.
“Handiridze radio kana ndichifamba ndirimumota nekuti ndiyo nguva yandinotarisa nemeso angu nekunzwa nenzeve dzangu zviitiko zvandinozonyora mumimhanzi yangu semharidzo kwandiri nevanondinzwa.
“Nekudaro vanenzeve ngavanzwe zvinotsanangurwa nenziyo nemagitare angu kuma shows votamba vachisimbisa mashoko anorapa mweya yedu, Amen,” said Macheso.
He managed to acquire residential stands for his band members in Chitungwiza where he stayed for years before moving to Waterfalls.
Macheso, whose father is Hudson Maenela and whose mother is Emilia Chisale, will be turning 55 on Saturday.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter