The Herald (Harare)

Zimbabwe: Xtra Large to Celebrate Ten Years in Music

HIGHFIELD-BASED urban grooves outfit "Xtra Large" will this year mark 10 years in music.

Comprising Jimmy "Snagga Jim" Mangezi and Norman "Likkle N" Manwere, the duo formed the group in 2003 with the the hilarious track "Maroja".

The two artistes, who have been childhood friends, have seen their fan base grow because of their ability to fuse humour and music.

While other groups have split because of differences, Mangezi ruled out going solo.

"We have been together since we were just kids. We would play together in the streets, our friendship is bigger than Xtra Large," he said.

Their friendship dates back to the time they both attended and completed their education in Highfield for their primary and secondary. The two, whose relationship resembles that of Siamese twins, took a more dramatic turn after they both showed a love for music.

The name Xtra Large was influenced by the group's desire to become more than just a youthful upcoming musical group but a household name.

The group was formed in 1998 and released its debut album in 2003 titled "Ndikadai" which was rebranded to "Zvakora" in the same year.

The album featured hits such as "Uri Roja", "Wafanaka", "Ndikadai, and "Zvakora". The group then released other chart-topping hits such as "Wandinoda" and "Small House (Amai Linda)," among others that made them household names. They became regular performers at national galas and also inked endorsement deals with reputable companies.

Their biggest breakthrough came in 2010 when they partnered Nyaradzo Funeral Services to produce an environmental awareness album.

To date, Xtra Large has seven albums namely "Zvakora" (2003), "Walembe" (2004), "Small House" (2005), "Still At Large" (2006), "One Drop" (2007-2008), "Xtra Ordinary" (2009-2010) and "Miti Hupenyu" (2010).

  • Comment

Copyright © 2013 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 130 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.

Comments Post a comment