OH, JAH PRAYZAH, WHO CAN FORGET THOSE EARLY DAYS?

Maria Chiguvari

Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub

A PICTURE is worth a thousand words!

A dig into photo archives is enough to confirm that before soldout shows, chart-topping hits and real recognition, there were hardworking musicians.

Award-winning contemporary musician, Jah Prayzah, recently shared a throwback picture on his social pages.He was in the company of Peter Moyo, Suluman Chimbetu and Maskiri. The quality of the photo, their pose and body structures speaks volumes.

The photo was taken around 2012 in the days when a Nokia phone was trending.The four musicians posed for the camera at Rufaro.

There is nothing in that photo to suggest that Jah Prayzah would rise to become one of the country’s most influential contemporary artists.The photo has triggered memories from fans.Here are some of their comments:

Tikazogara gara mbiri yaivepo these days was something else, you were way bigger than the JP in that picture. – Munashe.lee

***

I remember back in the day you pulled up at Machipisa with Suluman Chimbetu in that yellow Hummer, who knew Jah Prayzah would get this big?. — Caroline.Moyo

***

You just reminded me about those every Thursday kwa Boka changing room pasi pemu gumtree pa Extra Miles. — Victor Mejeso

***

I remember muchiuya na Mabla 10 pa Diamond Studios makatakura ma posters ekunoisa kuma schools kuti murove music and drama ikoko. Those day ndopakabuda Sungano, Phatisani Sibanda Ari manager wedu pa studio. — Unik Blacks

***

I have been a fan since I was say 11?? If you remember your Mutasa DC show 2012/13 there about with a line-up, curtain raising was veteran legend Leonard Zhakata, then came Suluman Chimbetu then you took to the stage in full combat military uniform, I even remember the feeling I had worse growing up in a pro-military household. — Frank Mazongonda