Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Trust Khosa
19 January 2008
Harare — JOSEPH Garakara has confessed that he is following in Alick Macheso's footsteps in sungura music "as there is honey in his path".
Last year Macheso included Garakara -- who is popular for the track "Idya Banana" -- on his list of those he called "copycats" or murondatsimbas, who thrived on imitating his work.
In a recent interview, Garakara said Macheso should not be worried about copycats because none of them have the capacity to surpass him. Instead, Garakara added, Macheso should be proud to being a source of inspiration to "small boys" in the sungura genre. Garakara said it was wrong for musicians to trade insults in the Press as they belonged to one family.
"I have been reading a lot of stuff in the Press about copycats. It has not affected me because I know what I want to achieve in the industry.
"What boggles my mind is that facts on the ground suggest with eloquence that Macheso is simply the best whether we like it or not. As fellow artistes, we are simply following in his footsteps because there is honey in his way.
"Of course, he might say we are copying him, but the truth is that we will never surpass him even if we copy word for word," he said.
Garakara, a schoolteacher by profession, said competition has fuelled the industry.
"Competition has been the root cause of the copycats issue and sungura rifts and I think as artistes we should not be afraid of competition.
"After all, art speaks for itself and to see people fearing competition makes me laugh, " he said.
Asked whether he had countered Macheso's Murondatsimba in the song Kutevera Gwara off the album Kechi-One Nezai, Garakara replied:
"First of all, people do not understand what I meant by that song.
"In fact, it was an acknowledgement to those that started before us and Macheso is included.
"If you get to listen to that song, you will find that I was actually praising Macheso because he is just good in all aspects.
"Anyway, people got me wrong but in my own view, it was a complement to Macheso among other stars who started before us," he explained.
Garakara said some fans had fuelled the issue through their own interpretations of the song.
On the other hand, self-appointed critics feel that Macheso hit back at Garakara on his latest album, Ndezvashe-eh, in the song Chikopokopo that has a stanza that goes like "wanga uripi chana chazuro" where he lashes out at those that hijack issues they do not understand.
However, Garakara said he was unfazed by people's interpretation of both his and Macheso's lyrics.
"I am not taking it seriously because I have my own agenda in music. My agenda is to grow musically. When there are people who can assist, grow like them, I will always ask them as is the case with Macheso and company."
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