Pius Makokowe bounces back

music scene after 16 years in the wilderness.
The talented guitarist and singer has joined popular Jazz outfit Jabavu Drive where he is the lead guitar for the famed group.

“They (Jabavu Drive members) are old friends and very experienced musicians who can play any type of music upon request.
“Some people were asking me why I was sitting on my talent and this forced me to have a rethink,” the affable artiste said.

Makokowe said he took a break in 1995 after being frustrated by the “poor remuneration” and opted to venture into farming after inhering a plot from his father in Mutasa, Mutare.
“When we started music it did not pay well and it was Rhodesia then. We were still young and were into music just for the love of it although there are some people who benefited from our music.
“Then, we recorded at the Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation – African Services,” he recalls.

He added: “After taking a break from music in 1995, I became a small-scale farmer in Bonda, Mutasa in Mutare. But before that, I was a member of the Zimbabwe National Army for 15 years until I decided to retire and concentrate on farming,” he said.

Born on February 25, 1954 in Highfield, Makokowe was one of the local artistes who played a type of music called cha cha cha that was close to rhumba.
In 1969, the musician rose to fame with his song “Anopenga Ane Waya” with the group Great Sounds.
From Great Sounds, Makokowe teamed up with others to form the Acid Band that immediately stormed the charts with singles like “Shanje” and “Basa Wakandidzinga Zvisina Notice”.

In 1975, Makokowe left for the United Kingdom to pursue a two-year music course at the Associated Board of the Royal Schools College.
This saw Thomas Mapfumo joining the Acid Band as a singer and composer, which gave birth to the Blacks Unlimited.

Upon his return in 1979, Makokowe joined the Real Sounds of Africa before being employed by CABS until the time he joined the army.
“We never received anything meaningful from our music then. They didn’t respect the issue of royalties despite our music being popular,” said the father of five, who is currently based in Budiriro 5.

He was inspired to sing by his parents who were singers in the Roman Catholic Church.

“I want to redo some of my old songs and will be recording a new album early next year,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jabavu Drive, the group that Makokowe plays for, plays every Wednesday evening at Holiday Inn Hotel and every Saturday at Jazz 105 in Harare.