2 September 2007
Harare — THE executive producer of the CBZ A-Academy talent search programme, Gary Thompson, has appealed to critics to support the show's inaugural winner, Jonah Sithole, in his path to stardom.
Thompson told journalists at the launch of the CBZ A-Academy 2007, scheduled to kick off yesterday in Mutare, Sithole should be given a chance to prove he is a good artist, not a copycat whose future in the industry looked bleak.
A number of critics have said Sithole's newly released 10-track album, Diversity, is more American than African.
They said he might have difficulty establishing his own identity on the music scene.
Thompson defended Sithole: "I have no doubt this young man is talented and will go places in the industry. I think people should just give him a chance and support his music, no matter what type it is."
But the host of the talent show admitted they were having "a nightmare" making an impact beyond the country's borders.
He said the current economic and political meltdown was an additional letdown, as many people tend to conclude that nothing good could come out of Zimbabwe.
"Zimbabweans, through the talent search show, will demonstrate to other Africans and the world that the people to confront our problems are ordinary people with extraordinary ability," he said.
At 18, Sithole has already proved his talent. His voice could be easily mistaken for that of a seasoned international musician.
In an interview with Standardplus, Sithole defended his album, saying he did not face an identity crisis but was singing what he was good at and the type of music he liked.
"The kind of music on my album is what I grew up listening to," he said, "and I think it is what I like the most. Personally, I think a person should just sing what he or she is good at and people should accept someone for that," said the rather bashful singer.
He said his music "described" his background, growing up in the United States, and not because he hated being an African.
The album features mature and polished songs. The title track features another CBZ A-Academy finalist Tapiwa Mugadza and Young Doe from Major Players. It encourages people from all over the world to live in harmony.
Kwandinobva, the only song in Shona features songbird Kudzai Sevenzo and has bits and pieces from Marshall Munhumumwe's Rudo Imoto and some extracts from the music of Oliver Mtukudzi.
The other tracks are Ease up, Equation of me and you, Puerto-Rican Girl, Right Now, My name is Joe, Just One Night To Be With You, Need To Know and Flashback.
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