Year of mega albums

Mtandazo Dube : Leisure Editor

WHAT is it about the year 2016? From sport, to music and even politics — the vibe is unmistakably intense. While this writer is no expert in matters of sport and politics, I consider myself proficient in the arts sector, and the energy, the support, the competition in this potential billion-dollar industry is palpable.

For a change, the upcoming awards season will see adjudicators having a different kind of headache.

Where they had to award an artiste because they were the only one with an album, this time around they will have their plates full, they are spoilt for choice.

The music tunes, from hip-hop, dancehall, sungura, and other genres in-between are of high quality.

So far music lovers are listening to fresh products from Tocky Vibes, Seh Calaz aka Boss Yala, Alick Macheso, Mathias Mhere, Blessing Shumba, Freeman, First Farai, Simon Mutambi, Obvious Mutanhi, Allan Chimbetu, Bishop Ollah Juru, Rockford “Roki” Josphats, Brian Nyahuma and Leonard Zhakata, just to name a few.

Yet there is more to come.

Superstar Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi’s latest “Eheka Nhai Yahwe!” has already been released internationally and is set to hit the streets in Southern Africa on August 20. Of course, in this digital age it is not surprising that some people already have it.

Suluman Chimbetu has decided to distance himself from the madding crowd — planning the arrival of his newest baby at the end of October. Whatever he is brewing at his freshly minted state-of-the-art studio in Mabelreign cannot and should not be underestimated — this is one guy whose survival instinct and ingenuity is incontestable.

The biggest, or rather the noisiest of the anticipated projects, is Jah Prayzah’s “Mdhara Vachauya”.

But wait a minute.

Winky D is brewing something too. In fact, rumour has it that he is planning an ambush.

As Jah Prayzah erects billboards, splashes on posters and newspaper advertisements while crisscrossing the world to film videos in the world’s famous cities, Winky D has been busy in the studio, focussing on surpassing his previous monster hit album.

No doubt, these two artistes will provide most of the drama this festive season.

But who will release a product that takes them into the musical stratosphere?

Music fans need not wait much longer to find out.

Jah Prayzah releases his album this Friday, and the following day he shares the stage with Winky D who only last weekend sampled some freestyles largely believed to be from his forthcoming album at a show in Gweru.

However, his witty manager quickly poured water on the speculation, saying the verses his chanter threw around at the Midlands Hotel gig were just lines the artiste had been meditating on prior to the show.

Said Winky D’s manager Jonathan Banda about the rumoured ambush: “Recording is an artiste’s everyday life. So when people see an artiste paying regular visits to the studio they assume certain things. The other time I bumped into Oskid at a shop and people that saw us talking assumed we were planning something.

“Right now there is this issue where Winky dropped a freestyle in Gweru, something he just had been meditating on in his hotel room before the show and people have taken it as a hint. Don’t worry, when everything is ready we will tell you, hatikujambei (you won’t be left out) Jahman.”

Notwithstanding the Winky D speculations, Tuku’s international release and Sulu’s work in progress — just how ready is Jah Prayzah

and his team for this weekend’s mammoth release where two cars, two refrigerators and two television sets are set to be won?

Team Jah Prayzah has promised a hassle-free road trip to Bulawayo, which will see a massive police escort, ambulances, mobile ablution facilities, roadside assistance, fast food mobile units as well as beverages on the go.

Benjamin Nyandoro, one of the team members putting it all together had this to say, “All is set for Harare and Bulawayo ‘Mdhara Vachauya’ Jah Prayzah album launch events. We have partnered a number of complementing stakeholders and service providers to ensure that Jah Prayzah’s fans enjoy this long awaited memorable experience.

“Those who are coming to the HICC and Bulawayo concerts must gear up for new and unique performances that will see us raising our standard to big and better levels.

“The road trip is going to be fun-filled with exciting stop-overs, from Harare all the way to Bulawayo.

“With close to 1000 fans joining Jah Prayzah on the road trip, we have put in measures to ensure a comfortable but thrilling experience.

“We have mobile toilets towed along the entire drive. Fast food mobile units, beverages on the go, among many other services.”

Well, if this event plus everything else does not add up to a unique year in showbiz then maybe Allan Chimbetu’s awakening from slumber after eight years is enough to prove that this year is different.

And urban grooves king Roki also pulled a welcome shocker, releasing only his second studio album after a similar number of years as Allan.

There is, however, a deafening silence from female artistes.

Only Selmor Mtukudzi, Tammy and Fungisai have been particularly active and can line up beside their male counterparts.

Maybe the lot of Ammara Brown, Cynthia Mare, Hope Masike and Jean Masters, to name just a few, are planning for next year.