Sundaymail Editor
IN what became one of the greatest sporting stories of all time, Leicester City were confirmed champions in the 2015/2016 Premier League season on May 2, 2016, which was the first time in the club’s history.
Claudio Ranieri, the club’s Italian coach, was exalted as an incredible manager.
Big-name coaches with fat pay cheques and well-paid players were in contention.
Ranieri began his managerial career in the lower leagues in Italy during the late 1980s, and made his name at Cagliari, which he took from Serie C1 to Serie A in successive seasons.
He later went on to manage Napoli, where he led the team to qualify for the UEFA Cup, only to be dismissed the following season.
But it was his Premier League title in 2016 that raised his profile.
The same thing happened on the local music scene around 2000 when Alick Macheso, then a farm boy who had been in the shadows of his mentor Nicholas “Madzibaba” Zakaria, unleashed a scorcher of an album called “Simbaradzo”.
With hits such as “Mai VaRhubi”, “Petunia” and “Mundikumbuke”, the album was obviously unnerving for the big boys in the industry.
Oliver Mtukudzi and Simon “Chopper” Chimbetu, who were top brands at the time, felt the heat.
The album catapulted Macheso to stardom and week-in, week out, his shows were sold out as music lovers sought to watch the revered bassist play.
In bars, kombis, cars and at weddings, it was just “Amai vaJohn kwavo, Baba vaJohn kwavo,” a line off the song Amai VaRhubi, as the country vibrated to the sound of the phenom.
The then little-known artiste had pulled the rag from under the feat of established artistes.
Fast-forward to 2021, a virtually unknown Tonga boy, Day Tawanda Mudimba of Binga, has unleashed a hit called “Kujatajata”.
The song, which counsels against using black magic to get rich and is presented in Shona and Tonga, is driving people crazy.
“Kujatajata minsamu nkutuchita mataata twayinka swebo te twajonga bana, twabetelela (The way we are dabbling in muti as fathers will haunt our children in future),” sings the melodious voice from the prodigy.
That the boy has no instruments is a story for another day, but that he struck the right chord is there for everyone to see.
The song has gained currency as it comes at a time when the country is battling a surge in ritual murders and the emergence of people who dabble in muti.
It also comes at a time when the country is promoting local languages.
The late Solomon Skuza once did the same with the song “Banolila”, which did the Kalanga proud.
Sadly for Mudimba, his is not an album, but a single.
Had he produced an album, I think we could be talking of something else.
If he had not released the song, I do not think anyone would have cared to notice who Mudimba was.
The challenge with handsome men is that they think they rule the world, even when it is clear that tourists flock to see baboons and gorillas.
A well-polished work of art speaks for itself.
“Pakatsemurwa tune apo varume. You do not need to be a known individual to produce quality work. Parohwa ngoma apa and please give credit where it is due,” exclaimed one Lister Ketero of Goromonzi as he did justice to the song.
The stocky florist said he now wanted to visit Binga to watch Mudimba in action.
He is not alone.
Most radio listeners are awestruck.
“Kamupfanha kepaBinga katiza nechimuti. Madhara achairiswa apa,” you hear people shouting whenever the song “Kujatajata” is played.
The song has left most people spellbound.
This shows that anyone anywhere can achieve greatness.
In a world where there are rumours of radio and newspaper journalists being given brown envelopes to tout lukewarm works of art as hot, the song “Kujatajata” is too hot to be overlooked.
If one puts his mind to something and works hard to achieve it, success is guaranteed.
Tales of virtually unknown or unexpected people becoming great abound, and this shows that whatever is done expertly can never be overlooked.
If music be the food of life, let it play.
For now, “Kujatajata” has taken the mantle.
Online Reporter