admin
AS 2014 drew to an end – his life became a nightmare.
Too many times, the young man from Rugare messed things up at music shows and talk of him being bighead made rounds.
Some even went as far as predicting the beginning of an end.
But 2015 has brought good fortunes for Tocky Vibes, real name Obey Makamure. On Wednesday last week, he inked his first ever endorsement deal, which is said to be worth tens of thousands of dollars per year.
Together with Suluman Chimbetu and two other yet to be unveiled top Zimbabwean artistes, Tocky Vibes officially became Savanna Tobacco’s brand ambassador.
The 21-year-old lyrical master will be the ambassador of the company’s top selling brand, Pacific Storm, which is often described as fodya yema ndimbandimba (the cigarette for strong people).
Speaking after the signing ceremony held at the company’s premises in the capital, a casually dressed Tocky, who was in the company of his manager, expressed optimism for the future.
“Pakatanga 2014 zvinhu zvanga zvakaoma, mukoma, asi gore rakazopera zvaanani. Iri zvaratotanga richifaya haa handione tichidonha patakwira apa. (At the beginning of 2014 things were tough for us, my brother, but they got better as the year ended. Now that this one has started positively we don’t see ourselves ever struggling again),” he said.
The “Mhai” hit-maker said he was thankful to God as he never expected to get such an endorsement.
“Music fans see things differently and so do media people. But I am particularly glad that Pacific saw me in a different light than what was being portrayed in the Press. Now I am a brand ambassador on top of being a brand myself,” he said.
The cigarette manufacturer, which has in the past sponsored top football clubs like Dynamos, Highlanders, Caps United and Black Rhinos, has a huge footprint in the entertainment sector.
They have had endorsement deals and partnerships with sizzling hot personalities like the controversial dancer Beverly Sibanda, superstar Oliver Mtukudzi, sungura king Alick Macheso as well as greats like South African jazz crooner Hugh Masekela.
Sulu, as Chimbetu is affectionately known, heaped praise on Savanna Tobacco, saying the company had dared to put confidence in local artistes.
The “Sean Timba” hit-maker, who is currently riding high with his latest release, Gunship, is not new to endorsement deals, thus he was happy more for Tocky than himself.
“Savanna Tobacco is an indigenous company that is supporting local artistes. But that is not all – we are not just local artistes but we are youngsters as well. We gain a lot of confidence as young artistes when companies like Savanna come knocking on our doors,” he said.
He added: “Yes I have had a relationship with Tocky outside this deal but now we have been brought together so that we can explore more ways of working together artistically.
“I am happy that my young brother and colleague, Tocky, has landed this deal – he needs it and so does Zim dancehall as a genre.”
Savanna Tobacco’s chief operations officer Mr Tongesai Zvaravanhu announced that the company had set aside US$200 000 for their four ambassadors and the campaign as a whole.
However, he could not be drawn into revealing how much each artiste would be receiving for the 12 months that they would be under contract.
Zvaravanhu said Savanna Tobacco as a young company, which came way after independence – was keen on working with young “born frees” like Sulu and Tocky.
“These are artistes who were born and made their mark after independence. They set the tone for everything world class in terms of talent, work ethic and patriotism,” said Zvaravanhu.
Online Reporter