A woman’s world!
PATIENCE MUSA
I have a dream.
In this dream I open my ZiFM Stereo weekday midmorning Xhale play list and 75% of the songs are by Zimbabwean women.
The songs are all current, well composed, produced, mixed and well sung.
I have a dream that someday the biggest Zimbabwe artists, the Zimbabwean top five list will be held down by women.
I have a dream, and my hope is that this comes true … soon.
I have to say from where I stand it certainly is looking good.
There was a time when you could count all the active female artists and you didn’t even need two hands.
Over time artists like Susan Mapfumo, Susan Chenjerai, Busi Ncube, Stella Chiweshe, Mirriam Mandipira, Prudence Katomeni, Chiwoniso Maraire, Fungisai Zvakavapano, Plaxedes Wenyika, Dudu Manhenga just to mention a few – paved the way for the next generation artists like Sandra Ndebele, Edith Weutonga, Rute Mbangwa, Marble Madondo, Pah Chihera, again just to mention a few.
The industry has slowly been getting better for women, because of the women who walked before them and set new standards.
With artists like Vuyo Brown, Cleo, Spiwe, Masa, SoulDeep, Ammara Brown Ccicci, Chiwoneso, Melyssa, Novuyo, Samantha the voice, Emelda Tshuma, Selma Mtukudzi, Marble Madondo, Daruler, Adiona, the future is certainly looking brighter.
I cannot possibly name them all.
They are too many, but I am hopeful let me tell you why.
Towards the end of 2020 Feli Nandi gave us music that we didn’t know we were lacking.
Tracks like Kukurumidza and Mashoko angu place her in a league of her own.
Her sound quenching our thirst for some authentic alternative afro meshed with some rockfish jazzy vibes.
Her effortless pouring of the voice over melody makes you pay attention even when you do not want to.
Her talent for refreshing story telling will keep her trending for years to come I’m sure.
Natasha Muz is a name that is not new to many who follow local hip hop, with some awards under her belt, a voice larger than life she is the underdog of the Zim music industry.
If I were her fairy god mother I would turn a pumpkin into a world class recording studio, turn four mice into the best producer, engineer and instrumentalists, turn two horses into a publicist and a manager and Natasha Muz would be equipped to take the world.
The thing about the Cinderella of Zim music is that she doesn’t even need a fancy gown or glass slippers – watch out for this one.
Whenever I close my eyes and picture a jazz concert underneath the stars, I see Tahle Wedzinza.
I should also add that Zimbabwe does not deserve this girl’s talent.
We really don’t. The things that girl can do with her voice…some other singers can only dream of.
I am sure of one thing though, someday we will appreciate and celebrate her more than we do today.
When we do, she will show us who she really is.
I remember the first time I heard the song Ndafunga iwe, I couldn’t get enough of it.
Let me tell you something, a lot can be said about an artist who’s artwork can tell different stories.
We all listen to it and come up with different interpretations.
That’s what Marble Madondo’s music can do for you if you let her.
If you’re yet to watch Marble Madondo on stage, I’m sorry to say you haven’t lived.
This girl has stage presence, some powerful pipes and a great future, it would be lovely though if she could push out more records.
Whether it’s gospel music or some inspirational tune, Marble Madondo needs to be on every playlist here on and into the future.
Shingai Shonhiwa and Shasha represent Zimbabwe on the global stage.
Shasha’s story breaks my heart because I was there from the start…well almost.
It’s sad that most times as a nation we don’t know how valuable our people are until they are given a chance elsewhere.
For years we had Shasha but we didn’t quite see her until another nation gave her a spotlight that we failed to avail.
As far as I know the genre she’s queen of limits her capabilities.
At the moment we have but just a glimpse of what she can do.
The world will learn soon enough, you wait and see.
Shingi Shonhiwa is a marvel to watch, not ashamed to show who she is.
The comfort she feels in her own skin makes me want to grab a notebook and pen and take notes.
Her sound shows that she is indeed a child of the world.
She is going to be one of those Zimbabwean artists we will be talking about and showing off with during nation battles on Twitter.
Enough of my bragging about the calibre of female artists we have in Zimbabwe, I can do that all day.
When it comes to 2020, there is a debate, a great debate on which female owned the year.
Some say Allanah, and no doubt Fadza Mutengi could easily be a contender for the 2020 number one song.
Yes Allanah is quite a force herself, what I would love to see is Allanah and Anita Jaxson on a track – maybe even a reggae track.
That would be refreshing.
Others look at Tamy for that duet with Jah Prayzah, Kuteera.
Some favour Anita Jaxson, who really stepped up last year. She gave us a new energy when we were all in the dumps over the Covid-19 lockdown.
She sang, rapped and toasted hits at a time when most artists were still reeling at the new normal.
She collaborated with Poptain, Bryan k and left us wanting more.
Janet Manyowa also delivered a hot plate finnese like she has been known to do, she is strong contender too.
Don’t forget 2020 is also the year that Shasha brought us the BET award…so if it were up to you which female artist would take the cup?
There are other artists too flying the Zim flag high from foreign lands artists like Tina Masawi, Ananya and Berita.
With so many new voices and the voices that have been around a while how can women not be on top in the next few years?
Why is it that we haven’t had a woman artist being the number one brand?
What are the hurdles, barriers, impediments?
I had to ask the artists who have been around a while.
Dudu Manhenga challenged the definition of success in the music industry calling it ‘Flawed’.
“Is an artist a success when their music is played all over or are they just well played?
Is an artist an international artist because they go to the UK and play for a bunch of Zimbabweans or they leave the country and perform on international arena?she asked.
Sandra Ndebele on the other hand alluded to Culture and stigma .
“Our culture as Zimbabwe will never let any women lead, everything will be done within the power to dethrone anything done by umfazi. No matter how hard we try.”
When I asked her if she thought things will ever change she expressed doubt that it would in her generation, but was hopeful it would change in generations to come.
In a number of industries, inequality has been stamped out through policies but there are none in the entertainment industries.
Before a woman on a stage opens her mouth to sing, certain stigmas would have already been attached to her.
From the time of Susan Mapfumo, the various women’s choirs that held it down before independence, Susan Chenjerai through to Katarina aka Elizabeth Taderera, women have had to work harder to get record deals.
Most of the record deals offered female artists were for gospel music (a more acceptable and respectable way of being in music in Zimbabwe).
The women who have made it ‘big’ locally in music have been singing gospel the likes of Ivy Kombo, Mai Charamba, Fungisai Zvakavapano, Shingisai Suluma, Mai Patai and even Janet Manyowa.
Edith Weutonga the current president of Zimbabwe Musicians Union believes it’s all to do with the system which is linked to politics.
No doubt there is a current trend of just using artists for galas and various campaigns without any care for the industry they exist in.
The most powerful women in Zimbabwe could open their eyes and see an opportunity here to lead the way and do something never done before and make history.
Maybe this is a country were the only super stars are to be politicians and no one else.
How does one regulate an industry they will not acknowledge?
Or invest in an industry you have no knowledge of?
Empower that which you do not understand?
Our time will come!
