adminHowever, Masvingo-based afro jazz female sensation, Praise Zinhuku, says no amount of pressure would deter her from realising her dream.
The musician, who is part of Feel Africa, an afro jazz outfit, is a musician who has showcased her talent without any regret, despite the adversities that she has faced in the music industry.
She has grown to be a complete and professional musician that, given more time, the sky could be the only limit for her to reach her potential.
Armed with an honours degree in music from Midlands State University, the afro jazz diva says music is in her blood and she can’t imagine doing anything apart from music.
“Music is in me and I am in music that I don’t see myself venturing into anything different.
“No-one will stop me from playing music. I know that the industry is not a female-friendly, partly because of what society prescribes and largely due to lack of support, that is financial and moral,” said Zinhuku.
The musician, who is also a music lecturer at Great Zimbabwe University, said Masvingo was full of music talent, but due to wrong perception only a few women artistes took the industry seriously.
“We have a good number of women who can make it in the music industry, but because of the perceptions that many people have on women in music, some ladies tend to be discouraged from realising their dreams,” she said.
Zinhuku said female musicians are regarded as being of loose morals by the society and this makes potential female artistes shun the industry.
“They could not live their dreams as they fear to be called names and it is unfortunate that many failed to lead normal lives because of such misconceptions,” she said.
Zinhuku said because of stereotypes many female artistes failed to make it in music.
“There are stereotypes around this genre that many think that since it is a male-dominated genre, women should not be involved and whenever people see any lady playing this type of music they don’t take her seriously,” she said.
Feel Africa is the reigning Chibuku Neshamwari Road to Fame champions for Masvingo Province.
The eight-member ensemble with three women and four men also left a lasting impression at national competitions in Harare in September.
Zinhuku has called on artistes to learn technical aspects of music so that they won’t falter in the end.
“I urge all upcoming artistes to emulate renowned artistes like Pastor Charles Charamba who has seen it fit to undergo some formal training in music. It is good to know the industry in its entirety and you can get this from formal institutions like colleges of music.
“I am not saying people should obtain degrees, but some form of formal training that would help them in managing their own bands and prevail when other artistes are failing,” said Zinhuku, who has promised to release a debut album early next year.
Coming to her personal life Zinhuku says she is not attached because many men did not tolerate her career in music.
“I have not yet found a guy who appreciates what I am. I am a musician to the marrow and I will never change that. It is against this background that I would love to establish a relationship with someone who understands the life of female artistes,” said the first born in a family of four.
Online Reporter