admin
Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
ONE of the country’s youngest Zim dancehall musicians, Ras Pompy, will be making his way to Bulawayo for a debut performance at Cape to Cairo on Saturday evening.
The 13-year-old artiste (real name Nyasha Reginald Mano), who rose to fame through hit songs such as Style and Pattern, Tobhiliva Most High Tichivharira, Change Giya and Mwari Baba, will be performing at the No Under-18 nightspot with Jah Child, Eddylino and Senkoe.
But before his Bulawayo show, the Mbare-based musician will be in Zvishavane for a performance at the FC Platinum Football Club house.
His show has, however, got people talking with most questioning how he had been allowed to perform at bars which claim not to allow those below the age of 18.
The artiste responded by saying he had been cleared by Zimra, Censorship Board and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe to perform in bars as long as he followed set guidelines.
“Since I’m underage, I’m not supposed to be in the bar before my scheduled time to perform, according to my clearance. I only enter the bar when it’s time to perform.
“I’m supposed to be escorted into the venue to the stage by a team of security personnel. After I perform, I should move out of the bar immediately,” Ras Pompy said.
He added that fans who wanted to take pictures with him could only do so outside the bar after his performance.
The talented musician said he recorded his first song, Mwari Baba, when he was in Grade three.
“By the time I was in Grade 6, it was almost common knowledge that I could sing as I recorded my first song when I was in Grade 3,” he said.
This year, due to Ras Pompy’s immense musical talent, he was awarded a full scholarship by the Borrowdale Brook Academy as part of their community programme for helping disadvantaged but talented children. The scholarship caters for his tuition and uniforms.
Speaking on his schoolwork, Ras Pompy, who is in Form Two, said he balanced music and school well.
“I’m writing my exams and I’ll be done on Friday at around 11AM. In the afternoon, after resting, I’ll leave for Zvishavane for the evening gig,” he said.
The youngster, who charges an average of $500 per hour for his performances, said he staged shows regularly as music was his source of income and he is the bread winner at home.
Asked on concerns that underage patrons would converge on Cape to Cairo to watch their dancehall hero, show promoter Admire Morrison said security would be tight and such patrons would not be allowed into the venue.
“We shall be checking IDs of people entering the venue. We shall not entertain anyone who is underage whoever they’re apart from Ras Pompy of course,” Morrison said.
He said Ras Pompy was part of the many Zim dancehall stars who would perform at Cape to Cairo this month.
“Ras Pompy is a musician who is talented in his own right and people should come and watch this young man spit on the mic.
“His performance is part of a whole host of Zim dancehall stars that will come to the nightspot,” Morrison said.
Ras Pompy scored a first this year as he was the first young musician from Zimbabwe to stage shows in the United Kingdom.
Online Reporter