Zora music king, Leonard Zhakata a Victim of His Own Talent?

 Leonard Zhakata

By Kamangeni Phiri and Pamenus Tuso

WORDSMITH Karikoga Leonard Zhakata’s lyrical expertise remains unmatched to date, but not so his musical fortunes.

In a career spanning over three decades, the artiste had established himself as a top protest musician in the country, second probably only to legendary chimurenga music icon, Thomas Mapfumo.

Zhakata’s early hits, like Mapfumo’s discography, strikes a serious shiver down the spine of those in control of the government and key radio and television stations. Consequently, most of the two artistes’ music is either banned or receives limited airplay.

Zhakata, however, says his music is often misinterpreted and denies his songs are political.

“I cannot say my songs are banned – they are blacklisted as politically incorrect. The said ban has not been official and maybe it is an order from a particular individual who does not like what I sing. I have fans in government, in Zanu PF and in the opposition.  These songs are not meant to please or rebuke politicians. They are not political songs in a sense. They are songs about life in Zimbabwe, where I live.

I have to sing about the price increases of food and petrol. I have to sing about power cuts, water cuts and everything that affects me. As a musician I do not sing fiction. I sing about reality and things as they happen on the ground,” The artiste once told journalist, Rhodah Mashavave, in an interview conducted in Germany years back.

Among his high profile fans, Zhakata counts the late former president,   President, Robert Mugabe, who paradoxically, loved and understood his music despite its blacklisting by state broadcaster, ZBC.

“He listened to my music with objectivity; hence he did not take things at face value. Mugabe was a genius and Zimbabweans know that for sure,” Zhakata told the Daily News on Sunday in 2019.

He was among the top artistes who used to perform at the annual 21st February Movement meant to celebrate the late former president’s birthday.

The musician asserted his status as a top artiste in 1994 with the release of a monster hit, Mugove, a song that denounces oppression at the work place and in the country by employers and government leaders respectively. The song is off the album, Maruva Enyika, which sold 120 000 copies within a space of 12 months.

Back then, music promoters jostled to book him for shows and Zhakata would play before capacity crowds. Mugove became a national anthem as it dominated music charts. The song was played at every party while it enjoyed massive airplay on national television and all radio stations.

The lyrical genius tackles social issues addressing topical concerns with a rich language that digs deeper to the roots of any subject he chooses to unpack. His love for figurative language makes it difficult at times for the average listener to interpret the message carried in his songs.

“I am not new to being misunderstood. A funny thing I even shared with my kids is how I used to struggle with my Shona essays (Rondedzero) when I was still in primary school. I don’t even know where I used to get it wrong. I would only learn of my shortcomings from my teacher’s comments, ‘What were you trying to write? Make your story clear.’ I enjoyed applying proverbs and idioms in my writings from an early age, I still do. So when people misinterpret my music I am not overly stressed. It is an old problem. People tend to interpret things differently,” Zhakata recently told Star FM Dj, Miss V Candy, real name Nonhlanhla Tutani.

At his peak, the artiste produced a series of hit albums, including his best so far, Nzombe Huru, which sold a staggering 154 000 copies in a space of 12 months. But things are different now partly because of rampant piracy which affects all musicians. The Mugove hit maker’s music has also dropped in popularity in recent years. Today Zhakata struggles to fill up venues while his music receives limited radio and television airplay. He has even dropped on the perking order of Zimbabwe’s top artistes.

But Zhakata has lost none of his touch. There is, however, a shift in lyrical content ever since he became a pastor with the Emmanuel Makandiwa led, United Family International Church (UFIC) in 2013. Most of his recent songs now have an element of gospel, a departure from the yesteryear protest music that launched Zhakata to stardom.

The singer noted a slight improvement on radio airplay for some of his love-themed and gospel-flavoured songs.

Pained by the blacklisting of his music by the state-controlled print and electronic media, Zhakata challenged the government in 2006 to free air waves to allow Zimbabweans to operate radio stations.

He even contemplated quitting music in 2011 after the release of the album, Gotwe (last born) but his fans discouraged him.  Although the album was well received by Zhakata’s fans, it fell far short of matching previous standards set by Maruva Enyika, Nhamo Dzenyika and Hupenyu Mutoro.

“The people’s support spurs me on. I am not a quitter and even went on to release more albums like Madam Boss and Mutungadzose,” said Zhakata who now has a rich discography of 22 albums.

The talented artiste was born Karikoga Gumiremuseve Zhakata on 25 June 1968 at Mutare Hospital, Manicaland province. He is an only son in a family of seven. Zhakata was later officially named Leonard after his baptism at the Anglican Church where his parents were congregates.

He spent his early years in his rural area, Maungwe in Rusape, where as a primary school kid he witnessed the last years of the liberation war between the freedom fighters and Ian Douglas Smith’s Rhodesian forces. The singer became one of the youngest mujibhas (war collaborators) when he joined other boys in spying on the Rhodesian forces and feeding the intelligence to the freedom fighters, also known as comrades.

It was during the liberation struggle that Zhakata’s interest in music took form.

The Zhakata homestead was at the bottom of a hill where freedom fighters had set their base.

“I witnessed the war first hand. We grew up singing war songs at pungwes (all-night political vigils). The songs were meant to encourage freedom fighters to keep fighting and also encourage parents to support the fighters. This is how I developed my love for music,” he told ZTV Living legends host, Masciline Bandamakara, in an interview.

The local school eventually closed when the war intensified, forcing the then young Zhakata to join his father in Harare where he continued with his education in 1981.  He enrolled at Shiri Yedenga Primary School in Glen Norah.

Zhakata started composing songs when he was still a primary school kid. He composed his early hit, Tungidza Gwenya and his very first song, Baba VaSamson, at the tender age of 13. Zhakata was to record these compositions years later when he teamed up with Makion and formed their band, Maungwe Brothers. Makion was a polished dancer who was inspired by Michael Jackson.

Zhakata and Makion introduced glittering stage attire which proved popular with the fans. The attire, accompanied by double belts for the trousers and waist bags became a fashion statement among the youth. This was augmented by new well choreographed dance moves which attracted fans to the band’s live shows.

In their formative years, the two young musicians were greatly inspired by the Marxist Brothers made up of siblings, the late Simon and Naison Chimbetu.

The Chimbetu brothers advised them to come up with their own unique style.

“If you listen to our early music you will notice a lot of Marxist Brothers influence. We enjoyed their music a lot and it influenced our style. To be honest, Simon and Naison, those guys were extremely talented. I then blended a little bit of rhumba music with our sungura bit to come up with my own brand, Zimbabwe Original Rhythms of Africa (Zora),” he said.

Zhakata and Makion decided to pursue solo careers in the mid 1990s. Makion remained with the Maungwe Brothers band and released Makorokoto, a hit album. Zhakata went on to form a new group, the Zimbabwe All Stars, a band that brought him fame and fortune.

He says the death of his cousin, Makion, in August, 2001, marks the lowest ebb of his life.

“With Makion we were more like friends. He was a close relative, a work mate and a brother. Many people assumed we were twins. When a friend that you grew up with, someone that you have a special understanding with, dies, it’s bound to affect you. Makion’s death affected me emotionally and psychologically. It affected even my way of composing music. My interest in the music industry waned but I kept praying to God to help me move on. It wasn’t easy to accept,” he said in his legends interview with ZTV.

Zhakata is married to Ruth and the couple has four children. He is a grandfather of one.

His recent project, Mutungadzose, had songs that won the first three spots on the annual Radio Zimbabwe Coca-Cola 2016 Top 50 Competition in 2016.

Maybe it is not all gloomy for the Zora music icon.

Could the musician finally about to witness a change of fortunes? Only time will tell.