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Liberty Dube
Entertainment Correspondent
FROM the song ‘Zvachonyana’ to ‘Handiende’ in which a stubborn but loving wife refuses to be divorced and invites her husband’s new flame to come and join the couple, Rusape-based folk singer, Steve Makoni (pictured right) , has stood the test of time.
Makoni is one of the few artistes in Zimbabwe who has been nicknamed after his hit songs.
He hogged the limelight with the album ‘Risati ravira’ which carried the song ‘Zvachonyana’.
Makoni also earned the monikers ‘Handiende’ and ‘Dhongi’ after the songs made a huge market in the music industry.
‘Handiende’ was released in 1994 and it was the best-selling single of the year at thay year’s Zimbabwe Music Awards.
The song ‘Dhongi’, popularly referred to as ‘Sabhuku Nedhongi’, became addictive to listeners.
However, Dhongi disappeared from the radar before resurfacing with the album ‘Ndada’ which carried the song, ‘Mambo Haagadzwi’.
The song was so popular and Dhongi reportedly received a whopping US$5 000 as royalties from the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) in 2013.
However, he denies that.
“It would be played more than 15 times a day. At first they (local radio stations) did not want to play the song for reasons known to themselves, but later made a U-turn and the song was widely accepted by listeners,” said Makoni.
In a recent interview, the aging Makoni shared some bit of information on his new lifestyle.
“I love my beer. I am friendly to everyone and I am professional. We have a family farm near St Faith’s Mission where I usually spend my time when I am not doing music. We are into livestock and horticulture, and I am learning some new things everyday since farming is dynamic,” he said.
It seems his sense of humour and wit in addressing issues that affect people’s day-to-day lives have inspired him to go back to the studio where he is working on a new album that is set for release in November this year.
The album is titled ‘Munibho’.
“It is part of the local street lingo especially understood by the people who hail from Rusape, where I come from. It can also be called chibhende. During our time, as time went by, the whites started understanding Shona, so we would talk in munibho so that they would not understand what we were talking about.
“As a social commentator, I tackle issues that affect people’s day-to-day lives. It will be ready for the market in November,” said Makoni.
He said his previous work was not greatly affected by piracy since the projects were on cassettes and vinyl.
“Piracy has always been an enemy to the music industry but during our time it was better. We had cassettes and vinyls. We had some factors that affected us but l never bowed down as I love music.
“The music industry is not for the faint hearted. It’s a tough area and my advice to upcoming or other established artistes is to venture into the industry wholeheartedly, not to eye financial gains first.
“The other thing is a song should remain relevant. Listen to my song ‘Handiende’, it is still making sense 30 years later. A song should have a long shelf life,” said the husky-voiced entertainer.
Makoni, who has five children, boasts of six albums – Risatiravira, Zvaitwa Nyati, Chingaira, Question Time, Taisireva and Ndada (Rhythms of the heart).
The solo guitarist has lined up shows as well as private events in Masvingo and Mutare this August and September.
Online Reporter