Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Richmore Tera
8 September 2007
interview
Harare — SUNGURA maestro Madzibaba Nicholas Zakaria has dismissed as mere rumours, stories doing the rounds that he was barren and did not see eye-to-eye with his younger sibling Zakaria Zakaria, who has since crossed the floor to join Alick Macheso's Orchestra Mberikwazvo.
Speaking from his Chitungwiza base, the left-handed lead guitarist -- conspicuous by his bald head, goatie beard and lyrics laced with a Christian flavour -- said he is happily married to Margaret with whom he has four children.
This flies in the face of widespread rumours that the veteran Sungura artist has not had a child but looks after "other people's" children.
The other rumour was that Zakaria has a "small house" and these were presented to Madzibaba by city.com readers.
Question 1: Are you married? How many wives and children? -- Mlilo Joyinani, fax
Question 2: Madzibaba we are made to understand that you have a "small house" which you take good care of and some circles claim you have children out of wedlock, how far true is it? -Idah Madombi (email)
"I have one wife, Margaret, and we have four children -- Simba (25), Rudo (21), Cecilia (17) and Lazaurus, who is in Grade 5.
"I don't have a 'small house'. I wonder where people are getting all those lies. In fact, it is immoral issues such as extramarital affairs and infidelity that I try to address through my music."
The brawny artiste, however, kept information regarding his investments a closely guarded secret.
The Khiama Boys frontman -- born 50 years ago in Mazowe -- said he was of Malawian extraction.
"When my father moved from Malawi (then Nyasaland) to work in Zimbabwe many years ago, he married my mother who was also from Malawi. So I am Malawian by descent," he said with pride.
Though Madzibaba has earned himself iconic status and the title Senior Lecturer after nurturing numerous artistes, he remains humble and prefers to live his life away from the limelight.
Like the Zimbabwe Saints Football Club of yesteryear, Nicholas Zakaria rarely wins trophies, but neither does he sink into obscurity.
In fact, those who know him say he is a fatherly figure, who is as sober as a judge. Not surprisingly, he has been untainted by the controversy that has sucked in most of his counterparts.
city.com caught up with the celebrated lead guitarist at his Unit A Extension home to get an insight into his life and views on the music industry.
He lives a stone's throw away from Macheso's home.
The first part of this wide-ranging interview was conducted in his modest blue Toyota Cressida, parked in his driveway because, according to him, his family was making preparations for an evening church service to be held at his home.
"Mungangoti handisi kuda kuti mupinde mumba asi pane church irikuda kuitirwa imomo nekuti pane urwere," he said, as we proceeded with the interview under the dim light filtering through the windows of the car.
While addressing a number of burning questions from readers, Madzibaba advised Macheso and Tongai "Dhewa" Moyo to be wary of third parties who come with all sorts of information and advice which could only worsen an already frosty relationship.
The third child in a family of 11, Madzibaba expressed concern at the goings-on at Orchestra Dendera Kings -- the music powerhouse that the late Simon "Chopper" Chimbetu so painstakingly built.
Question: Where is your wife? We hardly see you with her in public. Why do you hide her? Munotyei baba kuti tizive madam? -- (Idah Madombi)
Answer: My wife is mostly home-bound. Her name is Margaret Gweshe. Mudzimai wangu ndakamboita naye music kubva ichiri Vhuka Boys kuma70s.
She wrote songs such as Mwana Umwe, in Swahili and Ndine Zvinondinetsa, among others.
Vanhu vakuru vanomuziva. (Those who belong to the older generation might know her.)
She hardly appears in public because I don't think it is a good idea to take her to public functions. She is the religious type, unlike most of the youthful wives who like to accompany their husbands everywhere. But if there is really any need for her to appear in public, then you will be able to see her by my side.
Question: What is your relationship with Alick Macheso. Some say he is your brother while others say he is your cousin ("mzaya")?
Answer: Munin'ina wangu, according to Shona custom. His mother and my mother are sisters.
Question: Where did the name Senior Lecturer come from? Makaitei baba kuti mukudzwe kudai? -- (Idah Madombi).
Answer: People took me as a training centre for musicians; it was not a title I bestowed on myself.
I trained a lot of musicians, most of whom have gone on to make names for themselves in the music industry.
I am the one who taught Alick Macheso to play the bass guitar because I myself once played the same instrument before I switched to lead while Macheso replaced me on bass. I also taught Shepherd Chinyani, who for a time also assisted Macheso with the art of guitar wizardry.
Question: What has been your relationship like with your young brother Zakaria Zakaria? Did he leave your group because you don't pay well or you had a misunderstanding with him? Do you have any hard feelings against him or Macheso over the move?
Answer: I have nothing against Zakaria Zakaria because he is my young brother. He only moved to Macheso's band after we had discussed things amicably.
Whether it had something to do with money, I wouldn't know. I think he is the best person to answer that. But what I do know is that I pay my band members handsomely.
Zakaria is into music because it's his profession and that is where his bread is buttered. His departure was not a major loss for me because the moment that he left, I immediately found a replacement whom I groomed and he has fitted perfectly into Zakaria's shoes.
I also don't have anything against Alick and that is why we are constantly in touch with each other. Those who say we don't see eye to eye are only bent on sowing animosity between us. But we are very close.
Question: Hosiah Chipanga is your best friend? What do you have in common naVaChipanga?
Answer: Yes, we are the best of friends because we started music almost together in Chitungwiza after we got to know each other in the early 80s.
Question: You had a family show with Macheso in early August at the Harare Gardens, and when a fan asked you how it feels to have a joint show with Macheso you answered "Taperekedza vanogona?" Can you confirm that statement?
Answer: As I have said, a lot of inaccuracies and falsehoods are being spread about me and Alick. Ivavo vanotaura zvakadaro imharadzi. Pane wavarikutsvaga.
Question: You have been sharing the stage with Macheso of late, is it because you are related, being offered a lot of cash to share the stage with your relative, or have you cleared the air or you are now in good books?
Answer: Sharing the stage with Alick or any other musician for that matter depends on the promoter who hires the combination that he believes can rake in profits for him.
Sharing the stage with him has nothing to do with whether he is my relative or not.
Question: We understand that you are diabetic and have ulcers?
Answer: I have been diabetic since 1999 but I haven't been taking my pills for the past two years because I went kumasowe (church) where they prayed for me and the ailment has disappeared since then.
Question: People call you "Madzibaba", which Apostolic church do you belong to? -- (Langton Dzenga, e-mail)
Answer: I belong to the Mugodhi Apostolic sect.
Question: When Leonard Dembo was ill, you took him to your shrine and prayed for him. It is alleged that after his death you refused to release his minibus claiming that he had given it to you, is this true? -- (Mlilo Joyinani, fax)
Answer: Leonard Dembo was a friend of mine and when he fell sick I did what everyone would do for their close friends under such circumstances. I took him to my church for prayers which led to his recovery.
But after a year, Dembo's health deteriorated eventually leading to his death. However, I never took anything from him and I don't even know how his estate was disposed of.
That is a white lie.
Question: Do you have any investments? - (Mlilo Joyinani)
Answer: I don't want to discuss my property. Mibvunzo yakadaro ukaipindura inokusungirira. Nyika inozofamba ichikutaura kuti zvese akazviwana sei. Nyika inenge ichida kukupinza mutrap.
Anyway, I have five cars. I drive a Toyota Cressida, a Ford, an Isuzu twin cab, a Daihatsu and a Nissan. And, oh yes, I do own this house.
Question: Is your son, Simba, your band manager?
Answer: Yes.
Question: Who do you think is the best lead guitarist at the moment - you or Tongai Moyo? Answer: I can't say because it is up to our fans to judge, but if album sales are anything to go by, then it means I am there (among the best).
Another thing is that our styles are different. Tongai, Macheso and myself are three different artistes and we all command our different followings.
Question: What do you say about copycats?
Answer: I think it is rare for any musician to rise to the top, without imitating some of our established musicians. Hazvireve kuti kana muti mukuru ukaita mashoots iwo unobva wawoma. I don't even mind sharing the stage with them. Copying my style ensures continuity but with time the musicians should develop their own styles.
Zvakafanana nemunhu anodzidziswa kubika sadza. Recipe yacho ingori imwe chete asi nekufamba kwenguva munhu iyeye anogona kuwedzera tumwe tuma ingredients kudzi sadza rinake.
Zvakafanana futi nebeer. Rose rinodhaka asi rinozivikanwa nemazita nema tastes akasiyana.
Question: Why did you lock up your instruments in 1997?
Answer: I was in the process of assembling more instruments since the kit I was using was incomplete. I wanted to keep the few I had assembled safe.
When I ventured into truck driving, one of the major reasons was that I wanted to have access to foreign countries where I could purchase more instruments, apart from earning a living for my family.
Some might misinterpret it to mean that since I was now into truck driving, I didn't want my band members to use them.
Question: Why did you abandon truck driving? Or are you still into it?
Answer: I left the job in 2002 because I wanted to focus on my real talent -- music. Ndinoda kuridza kusvikira ndichembere. Music ndiyo chiraramo changu.
Question: On your videos we see your dancers doing the sweating while you concentrate on playing the guitar without going through the paces. We want to see you dancing just like Macheso, Tongai, First Farai, Jays and Chipanga do on stage. Please don't be like Dembo? -- (Langton Dzenga, e-mail)
Answer: My talent is in playing the guitar and singing and not dancing, which explains why I have employed boys to do the dancing.
Also, we are not all born multi-talented that is why the reader who asked me this question likes music but doesn't have what it takes to be a musician who churns out music for the public.
Question: You seem to have adopted Macheso's Borrowdale dance. Are you not losing originality?
Answer: For the record, it was the Khiama Boys who first came up with the name Borrowdale dance although this type of dance has been in existence for many years before the name Borrowdale dance was coined.
In fact, the producers of one of our videos -- Chikumbiro (1994) -- suggested the name to us after they had discovered that the dance was reminiscent of the canter of horses racing at Borrowdale Race Course.
Question: Rumour has it that Macheso was writing most of the songs that shot you to prominence as Khiama Boys. How far true is that?
Answer: I wrote all the songs. If ever there was an instance when Macheso wrote songs, it was after I had encouraged him to write and contribute songs because I wanted him to learn all the aspects of music, apart from playing the bass guitar.
Question: As a Senior Lecturer, what can you say about Macheso and Tongai's "cold war"? -- (Mlilo Joyinani)
Answer: The two have never approached me about their differences and all I can say is that it much ado about nothing.
Pamwe hapana chiripo, manyepo. Asi vaviri ava vakatevedzera vanhu vanogona kupesaniswa zvachose.
Question: What about the Dendera Kings?
Answer: I am not happy about the split. I think Allan and Sulumane should maintain the group that the late Simon left.
Briam could have led the efforts to reunite them, but he himself needs assistance because he is sick. Anyway, everyone has a choice to make.
But before going their separate ways, they should have approached elders like us for help.
Question: Are you the founding leader of the Khiama Boys?
Answer: Yes. I formed the band in 1974. Things then were very tough. We faced a lot of challenges to get where we are today.
We started without any instruments, and I had to work very hard to acquire them for the group, then it was transport problems and above everything else, there was a lot of competition on air as well as getting recording companies to accept our music.
But with time, we became what we are today.
Question: Which one do you think is your best album? Chiraramo is my best. -- (Mlilo Joyinani)
Answer: Yes, Chiraramo is good but I prefer Zvirimudzimba (1997). I think it has surpassed all my albums if one looks at its instrument arrangement as well as lyrics.
Question: What advice would you impart to musicians who trade insults through the media?
Answer: It's a big mistake to fight personal wars through the papers. Imimi ibasa renyu asi nyaya ikabuda imimi munenge musisipo kana vaimbi vamanyora nezvavo vobatana pahuro.
Zvinotengesa pepa renyu asi zvinogona kundipa nzara semuimbi nekuti munenge manyora ndichipopotera mumwe wangu. Muchasangana muri vaimbi muchisheya stage, shoo inozofamba here?
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2007 The Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
