Mtandazo Dube

THERE are definitely interesting times ahead in Zimbabwe’s ever twisting music industry. In fact, this week is going to be quite eventful — Baba Harare, real name Braveman Chizvino, the 29-year-old artiste who recently dumped long time employer, Jah Prayzah, launches his album on Thursday.

The next day, Jah Prayzah unleashes Baba Harare’s replacement and unconfirmed reports say the artiste will release a single, recorded last year but recently pimped up and ready for the market. Baba Harare’s launch takes place in the CBD and if the line-up of artistes set to grace the event is anything to go by, then it is going to be explosive.

It also remains to be seen if Jah Prayzah himself will attend the launch. When former band member and alleged lover Pamela “Gonyeti” Zulu left the Third Generation band, Jah Prayzah’s outfit, to launch her own career, the “Eriza” hit singer was billed to attend but he never showed up on the day.

However, since Baba Harare parted ways in a more formal way than Gonyeti, perhaps his former employer will attend and show everyone that there is no bad blood between them.

While all this drama is enough to whet the appetites of showbiz followers — the real drama is said to be in the music itself. Baba Harare, who has not spoken out about the real reasons he left Jah Prayzah to start his own thing, is said to have decided to let his music do the talking.

It would be interesting to hear what Baba Harare has to say to his former employer, who in turn is known to respond to a number of issues by penning songs even though some have not seen the light of the day — only being performed at live shows.

Baba Harare’s album features two collaborations with sungura maestro Alick Macheso and talented singer Progress Chipfumo. The duet with Macheso is called “Ibvai Pano” while the one he did with Chipfumo has been named “Zindakupa”.

In an interview with The Sunday mail Leisure, Baba Harare, who has consistently refused to be drawn into talking about his departure from Third Generation, said he was ready to enter the music industry as his own man.

“I have come with my own style. People should be ready to have some real fun and enjoy exceptionally good music from myself and the team that I’m working with,” declared Baba Harare.

He added: “I have been in the music industry for a while, this is not new. We are not armatures so people should speak their minds when they hear the product; whether they like it or not — we can take it.”

Among those set to attend Baba Harare’s launch are Macheso, Chipfumo, Suluman Chimbetu, Gonyeti, Mbeu and Tatenda Pinjisi, whose song was number seven on the much talked about Coca-Cola Radio Zimbabwe Top 50.

Baba Harare, who says he got his moniker from Jah Prayzah’s former manager Filder Muchabaiwa aka Mama Filo, joined the Third Generation outfit in 2009 from Sigma Boys, a sungura outfit.

He says his 14-track album is dominated by reggae tracks and Afro-fusion numbers that he believes will take the industry by storm as they are well-crafted and different.

Meanwhile, Andy Muridzo, the artiste that comes from the same village as Jah Prayzah, sings like the “Mdhara Vachauya” singer, whose stage outfit, although not military, resembles Jah Prayzah’s, is set to launch his third album.

Titled “Tichambotendererera”, the album is set to be launched at the 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale in early March.

His last album, which carried hit songs “Chidhafudhunda” and “Dherira” was well-received by music lovers and it will be interesting to see how the impending 12-track effort will fare.

In the same month, energetic gospel artiste Mathias Mhere, who recently collaborated with dancehall chanter Freeman, will also be launching an album.

Information coming out of Macheso’s camp also indicates the “Madhawu” hit-singer is putting final touches to his 11th album in the same month of March.

Having slowed down the tempo last year, most Zim dancehall artistes have promised to return with a bang this year. Could this be the year of Zim dancehall resurgence or its complete demise? Both Killer T and Winky D’s managers, speaking in previous interviews with this publication, said new material will be released this year.

Will we see more magic, in terms of videos, from the likes of Ammara Brown and Jah Prayzah? Or could this year be a year of more games from the likes of Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave, who has been telling everyone who cares to listen that this will be the year she releases her last musical album? It remains to be seen.

One thing for certain, though, is that the music industry is alive — from sungura to hip-hop.