adminlikely to meet at any arts event, be it a funeral of a popular musician, at an album launch or a musical show. Often dressed in blazing bright shirts, his life is synonymous with the arts industry. Entertainment Editor Ruth Butaumocho (RB) recently had a chat with Diesel Power (EG), just to find out on what gives him the vibes.
RB: When did you venture into the arts, particularly emceeing? EG: I have always loved to be part of the arts industry, and y breakthrough came in 1991 after I was discovered by Clive Malunga during the then Zimbabwe Union of Musicians Day. What followed were series of events where I partnered several prominent radio and television personalities as an emcee. During that time, I had an opportunity to host the late Vuyo and Rebecca Malope. But, of course, for all the time that I have been in the arts, I learnt a lot from the late Simon Chimbetu. He moulded me and contributed to who I am today. Through him, I managed to amass knowledge on etiquette, the history of the arts in Zimbabwe and, of course, experience on emceeing.
RB: Most people know you as DJ December, how did you find yourself with such a nickname?
EG: December is the time of the year when I am usually busy and naturally that’s how the nickname stuck. But, of course, those who I have moved around with know me as Diesel Power. It is a nickname that stuck with me during the time of the late Simon, who would often refer to me as “Diesel Power” largely because of the resilience and energy I exhibited whenever I was on stage.
RB: You are one of the few people who worked with renowned radio announcers like Eric Knight and the late Joe Panganai. What was it like working as an MC back in the days?
EG: My heart bleeds when I think of those days, because people were highly professional and respectful one another, a tenet that is lacking these days.
I am appalled at the level of unprofessionalism among artistes, particularly so for DJs, who snide and diss each other in the presence of fans. That never used to happen.
People now want to make a quick buck, and rarely worry about their conduct on and off the stage, and that is the reason why we now have a lot of DJs being dismissed from their workplaces and even on national radio. They are now behaving like animals, who have got no regard for morals that shape a person – havasisina hunhu.
RB: What do you think are the issues that are stopping your profession from growing, and how do you think these should be addressed?
EG: The problems that are currently besetting the industry can be blamed on arts promoters, who are using the divide and rule tactic by paying musicians much more than DJs and any other supporting artistes, and yet they forget that it’s a chain.
Let’s have a situation where promoters would need to pay and allocate resources fairly across the board, and that will not be achieved once promoters come up with flat charges for live shows, to address the imbalances that current exist. Why should an artiste be paid US$5 000 for appearing on a show, and someone who is doing the same job like, say, a DJ get a mere US$100, yet both of us will be at the event until dawn?
RB: Zimbabwe’s arts industry has grown over the years, and there are so many fly-by-night people who are claiming to be musicians, and artistes. What makes one a good artiste?
EG: An artiste is as good as his last recording, meaning to say every artiste, especially the upcoming ones, have got the potential to do better than established ones, once they are consistent in terms of recording, marketing and mentoring. The reason why there seems to be a lot of fly-by night artists is largely because there are lot of talented people in this country, but they do not have adequate resources to sustain their projects. That scenario has created the fly-by-night artistes that I am sure you are referring to. They are good, but don’t have resources to keep the project going. Zvinotoda mari, kuti uite zita muma-arts.
RB: A lot of people say the arts industry does not pay. Apart from being a DJ, what else do you do for a living?
EG: I am a sales and marketing manager for Tropical Music Sounds as well as for Hard Sounds Music, which specialises in selling PA systems and a host of other musical instruments.
RB: Many people in the arts industry know you as Josphat Somanje’s manager, but I haven’t seen you around him lately?
EG: I am no longer with him, distance cost me my job. I was based here in Harare and he was in Marondera. So more often than not, I would book him for a show here in Harare and it would later turn out that he would have made another booking in Marondera. Besides, the guy is not professional, he was letting all the women that he was in love with at that time run the affairs of the band. That often created problems, but tell you what, I don’t regret losing my job; it was a nightmare.
RB: In 2009, you were arrested on allegations of extortion. Can you tell us what happened?
EG: Now listen, you got everything mixed up. I was never arrested. What actually happened is that we received news that there were some guys in Mbare who were selling pirated CDs of the late Chimbetu, so myself and Orchestra Dendera Kings members arrived at the scene, and confiscated the material.
For fear of arrest, the guys apologised, and told us that they had actually paid Matsengarwodzi (Anti-Piracy of Zimbabwe chief executive officer) so that they could be allowed to sell the CDs without hassles. When Matsengarwodzi heard about that, he immediately called the police and had us arrested, as a cover-up.
RB: But Diesel, despite your years of experience in the arts industry, not many people take you seriously. Why is that?
EG: Honaka, Ruth, there is a tendency by people to pull each other down, especially when they realise your potential and your capabilities. I know a lot of things have been said about me, but I don’t really care. What has kept me going are words from Martin Luther King, when he said “. . . One day my people will be judged not on the colour of their skin, but the content of their character . . .” One day I am going to be a great person and a lot of people are just going to be envious of my new status.
RB: Any family?
EG: Yes, I am married to Edith Kujinga and have been blessed with four children.
Online Reporter