Maria Chiguvari
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
Eleven months after his uncle’s death, Lazarus Zakaria has opened up about those who have supported him in keeping his father’s musical legacy alive.
Nicholas Zakaria passed away last year at the age of 69 on December 11 after battling diabetes and hypertension.
Lazarus said there were times when the pressure of carrying his late uncle’s musical legacy became too much for him but fellow musician Sulu Chimbetu always encouraged him not to give up.
He has praised musician Sulu for supporting him in his efforts to keep his father’s musical legacy alive.
Lazarus said Sulu was among his late uncle’s close friends and was the first person to believe in him when he started working on keeping the Khiama Boys legacy alive.
He was given a platform to perform and encouraged to continue with the journey at a time when he was still finding his feet.
“Today, I want to sincerely appreciate my Elder, Sulu Chimbetu, a man whose contribution to my journey of carrying forward the legacy of my late uncle, Nicholas Zakaria, will forever remain in my heart.
“Elder Sulu was among the closest people to my late father, and when I started this journey of keeping the legacy alive, he was the first person to trust me, believe in me and give me a stage to stand on.
“He didn’t just give me a platform to perform; he gave me a reason to believe that this dream was possible.
“There are moments when this journey becomes so difficult that I feel like giving up. Moments when the weight of carrying such a great legacy feels overwhelming. But whenever I feel like throwing in the towel, this man finds a way of strengthening me, encouraging me and reminding me why I started.”
He described Sulu as an important figure in his journey, saying his support had given him the confidence to continue honouring his father’s name.
“I will never forget who stood with me when this journey was still a dream,” he said.
