adminFreedom Mutanda
FROM Rimayi Village under Chief Musikavanhu comes Ronald Mtetwa, born and bred in Mabvuku, Harare 28 years ago who is scaling dizzy heights with his hit single, Mbatsoyemapuwe.
The single is already rocking the airwaves. He is a humble man, but the musical voice that churns out those Ndau laced songs is a delight to listen to.
“Initially, I sang in English and Shona,’’ says Ronald Mtetwa in a telephone interview last week.
Ronald’s brother, Obrien advised him to write songs in his native Ndau since not many singers sang in it. For a moment, he thought it was a crazy idea, but he decided to release an album with Ndau lyrics in December 2015.
“I said to myself let me go for it because I am indeed Ndau by origin. Because of that in December last year, I released an album, Get some money’ where the hit single Mbatsoyemapuwe was plucked from,’’ the soft spoken Ronald Mtetwa said.
In that song which became synonymous with house parties through out the nation, he says he wants the youths and even the elderly to respect and appreciate their country and its history.
“Mbatsoyemapuwe is actually Ndau for Zimbabwe. I want people to realise that notwithstanding the diverse dialects in Zimbabwe, we are the same and we have a similar world view. I also collaborated with Lazzie T in the song, Kutsvake Mare and I believe in collaborations in music because additional finesse makes the final product sweet music to those who listen to it,’’ Ronald explained his collaborations in music.
He said his music was rap, but it was more of hip-hop which is a feature of dancehall music popularised by LI Wayne in the United States of America.
“My music is influenced by rhythm poetry with claps on the beat,’’ Mtetwa said.
He formed a group called Tsangamidzi with Trymore Masaraure as one of the band members.
He has been holding shows across the country and his music is being well received.
He has since earned a nickname Mbatso.
Asked what influences his lyrics, Ronald said: “Life experiences spur me on in my writing of music. Once I see a phenomenon occurring, I feel motivated to write about it,’’ he said.
In the song, Get some money, there is a phrase, “……dakara kunga matede apuwa magumbeze’’. It means someone must be happy like baboons that have been given blankets.” he said.
Online Reporter