PATIENCE MUSA
Gratitude is a beautiful thing.
It is something that is not specific for just certain occasions; it is something we must be moved to everyday from the moment we wake till we sleep.
Sometimes life takes us through many challenges and many winding roads that we forget that it could have been worse had it been for some individuals.
The feeling of gratitude is a special kind of thought that should not be kept secret, it’s an emotion that needs to be communicated or else it loses worth.
It’s a lot like love, no need to feel it and keep it, it cries out to be expressed in different ways.
Gratitude is the kind of emotional stock take that leads to a realisation that one is in actual fact quite wealthy.
Gratitude comes in all forms. It is something that needs to be expressed to those who need to hear it.
The people who inspired our journey in our career seldom get to know what they did for us because we either never get to meet them or we dare not vocalise the emotion.
Uncelebrated, unmentioned are artistes who toiled with no stencil to follow, they entered the industry and had to make their own way.
It is because they did this that generations can today follow – the torch they lit still burns for others to see the way and follow.
This weeks’ article is on the artistes we love and the artistes they love!
Tahle WeDzinza – I am inspired by Mokoomba, Stella Chiweshe, Bundu Boys and Dorothy Masuka. Art and music that inspires me the most is the one that walks in the truth of its purpose.
Purpose is something that a lot of us as people run away from because sometimes the gifts and responsibilities we have force us to become people that we aren’t ready to be.
I say thank you for living your lives as truthfully and as freely as humanly possible.
It’s given this generation of musicians more courage to express, minister and use music as a tool that is much greater and not limited to entertainment.
Rather we have a desire to make sure that we as a new generation of musicians take part in making music that will play a part in carrying forward the beauty of the Zimbabwean story and culture.
Kessia Musona: I have been inspired by Mukadota Safirio Madzikatire, Stella Chiweshe and Ras Trevor Hall.
Mukadota inspired me from a young age, because he gave me my first experience of performing on stage.
Mbuya Stella Chiweshe has been a cultural icon in Zimbabwe and abroad; she taught me to be proud of my culture and that there is nothing unspiritual about playing the mbira.
And that has inspired me to have traditional music in my music compositions. Ras Trevor Hall inspired me because of his strong alignment in reggae music and black pride. He inspired me to lead not just follow behind others.
He created a safe space for me to grow artistically and am forever grateful.
Leonard Mapfumo: I was inspired by Rosalla Miller, Bundu Boys, Leonard Dembo, James Chimombe, Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mtukudzi, Chiwoniso Maraire, Ilanga and Michael Lanas… the list is very long. These artistes showed us that Zimbabwean music could go beyond Zimbabwean borders.
They gave Zimbabwean music the needed attention from the world and they just did not make a name in Zimbabwe but they were and are still being celebrated around the world today.
Bella Ashley: I am inspired by Barbra Makhalisa, Velary Tagwira, Author Marara, Thando Ndlovu, Tariro Sibiya and N.N Sigoga. They give hope inspiration and lessons. They give a strong message to the corporate world.
I would like to say to them…”
Without you my life was a mess.
May the Good Lord continue to bless them and those who left us may you continue to rest in peace and worry not l as a writer I’m trying by all means to fulfill and carry the work you left.
Tha Dawg: I am a fan of Thomas Mapfumo. I find his music very direct and confrontational. He is a free will thinker on his best records.
Dr Oliver Mtukudzi- was more open to being vulnerable emotionally.
There was a time when Aleck Macheso was undeniably the biggest artist. The Urban Grooves era cannot go unmentioned.
For the past years Dancehall was the new craze-Soul Jah Love, Killer T, Enzo Ishall, to name a few I am a big fan of Silent killer.
I am a fan of hiphop as a culture – Cal_vin, Jnr Brown, Takura, Asaph, Jungle Locco, R Peels Mwana WaPharaoh and Holy Ten, among others. I believe these guys have figured out the fundamentals of being an artiste in their own way fusing thought process/philosophy and culture on beats.
Feli Nandi – I was inspired by Jah Prayzah from a distance watching him on stage l learnt a lot of things—confidence, energy and order.
I fortunately got the opportunity to work with him on his upcoming 2021 album on some of his tracks, it was a life changing experience.
I was also very much guided and inspired by Mbeu, as l worked closely with him for 3 years as his backing vocalist.
Zolile Makeleni: My love for tv was born in the early 2000 when we used to watch Studio 263.
Arnold Tongai Chirisa made me want to be an actor. l remember meeting him for the first time when l had gone for auditions he told me something that change my life up to today.
He told me that you can go as far as you wish to if you pay attention to every negative comment said to you, use that to improve yourself.
I would like to say to Arnold Tongai that when you spoke to me you were just doing your job as an adjudicator to those auditions but your spoken words helped me nature my talent as an actor, up to today l always share this with every aspiring actor l come across.
Agga Nyabinde: I appreciate first of all my dad , Bob Nyabinde and the late legend Dr Oliver Mtukudzi. These people taught me a lot which included having discipline as an artiste on and off stage.
They also showed us a level of respect for fans.
I would also like to appreciate Sulumani Chimbetu and Ammara Brown, being children of music legends they have demonstrated beyond Doubt that talent plus hard work will take you far.
To Sulu, I would like to say thank you for keeping the Dendera Legacy alive. Thumbs up for being innovative around the brand without taking away the sound but adding more value through modern flavour to suit the new and old audience.
I would also want to mention Tongai Moyo. He has beenan idol to me since I was growing up.
Promoters would be compelled to pay meaningful money to the artiste as his work etiquette showed that he was not here to play.
Diana Samkange: I am inspired by Tanga Wekwa Sando, Ambuya Stella Chiweshe, Oliver Mtukudzi and Chioniso Maraire.
Their authenticity and advocacy for Zimbabwean culture and tradition even their influence in the modern day life.
I would like to really thank them for representing Zimbabwe through their different genres of music and their influence in the society, and last but not least, for inspiring me to take the same footsteps as I proceed with my purpose to represent and stand for mbira and traditional music in my own music career.
Mzoe 7: Chioniso Maraire is iconic to me her music speaks to my soul her sound always say Africa and it helps me understand myself and the value of my culture.
Sandra Ndebele has always been an inspiration and taught me consistency and how to build a brand, she values culture and is hard working her music speaks to all generations. Mtukudzi is my mother’s favourite artist I grew to love his music because it spoke life and Afro beat is my favourite sound Tukus music is always there for every situation and may his soul rest in eternal peace.
DJ Raydizz : I’m inspired by Rax, Leon, Smoove, Dee Nosh, L Roy all skilled DJ’s I used to look up to when I was in high school they all did amazing things & amazing shows. I’m grateful that they paved the way for us to carry the torch and grow the industry for the next generation as they did.
Dadza D: I say thank you to the Zig Zag band, their sound was more of a Zimbabwean Reggae. To them I say thank you for the great sound that lives forever and because of your sound l am who l am today.
Cleo – I’m inspired by Oliver Mtukudzi. His music was absolutely fantastic and authentic. It spoke volumes and changed lives including mine.
His song writing and guitar skills were by far the best in Zimbabwe. If he were alive, I would tell him that he is the greatest and no one can ever replace him.
So Profound – For me my two favourite poets would have to be Flowchyld and PSP. They are such masters at their craft, at the same time so hip-hop, so swaggy and effortlessly excellent that it’s because of them I decided spoken word poetry was going to be one of my chosen mediums of artistic expression and communication. Mind blowing really!
To them I say – you two will always have my complete love and admiration. Look! I have wrestled and captured whales, domesticated sharks and out multitasked octopuses because you made me believe that anything is possible with words.
Audius Mtawarira: I was inspired by Fortune Mparutsa. As a young creative id listen to his music a lot as my father would play his music in the car. To him I’d like to say thank you for being an inspiration that lasted way beyond his time.
Mono Mukundu: I was inspired by guitarists Jonah Sithole- the one who is credited with creating the Mbira guitar. And as a music producer I was inspired by Fortune Mparutsa and Andrew Baird.
Thank you is a pretty simple phrase yet we never say it often enough, in spheres we aim to conquer on the roads we travel may we never have too much pride to acknowledge those that made the way so that we may follow.
More over let us not wait for their passing to communicate gratitude.
