Online Reporter
Liberty Dube
Entertainment Correspondent
THOMAS (Junior) Makion — son of the late music legend, Thomas Makion — is determined to keep the Maungwe music legacy thriving, despite the challenges militating against his promising career.
The late Thomas Makion, along with Leonard Zhakata, co-founded the iconic Maungwe Brothers group before they parted ways.
After the split, Makion (Senior) continued to perform under the Maungwe brand until his untimely passing in 2001 — months before Thomas (Junior) was born.
Now 24 and passionate about music — Thomas (Junior) who performs under the stage name TMJ is gearing up to release his six-track debut album — “Svikai Zvenyu (The Redeemer),” next month.
Songs carried on the album are, “Ndiudzeiwo,” “Mutarisi,” “Pakura,” “Ndoenda Naye,” “Chema Ndikunzwe” and the title track “Svikai Zvenyu/The Redeemer”.
In line with current trends, Thomas (Junior) plans to release one song at a time, each accompanied by a music video, until all six tracks are out.
“We are readying a new project which we believe will be done by next month.
I am confident that the project will propel the Maungwe legacy to dizzy heights.
I did not delve away from the Maungwe signature beat, and I intend to endear the brand with our legion of fans dotted across the world,” he said.
The project boasts a distinct, traditional Maungwe sound reminiscent of the legendary Maungwe Brothers and Zhakata’s ZORA Music. This unique sound is expected to captivate listeners.
However, Thomas (Junior) also aims to infuse a fresh, innovative style to appeal to a broader audience.
Despite his passion and talent, the young artiste acknowledged that his journey has been challenging.
“One of the hurdles I face is that many of our fans have limited data, making it difficult for them to stream or watch videos online. We have tried to make our music more versatile and accessible in different formats to reach a wider audience.
“I believe I need to work harder to increase my project’s visibility. While I have been putting in a lot of effort, I am convinced that more needs to be done to engage my followers, especially those who are avid fans of my music,” he explained.
Thomas (Junior) added that, despite struggling to get airplay, he plans to focus on performing more live shows to popularise his brand and connect with the Maungwe music fans nationwide.
“I have also faced challenges getting airplay and even when I asked fans to vote for my music on various shows, it has not been easy.
“However, I will not give up. Perhaps it is just not my time yet. I am grateful to our loyal Maungwe and ZORA music fans who continue to support us.
“These are iconic brands and I vow to keep pushing forward until we reach the top,” he said.
This upcoming release will be his third project.
