ON the international scene, Mokoomba are among the hottest musical outfits from Africa.
The group will attest to the fact that it’s a long way to the top.
Local male musicians might not have a lot of money, but their fame is enough to attract the attention of many, especially women who, intentionally or otherwise end up ruining the lives of these stars.
The above sentiments stem from observations made by this reporter at Theatre in the Park, where Mokoomba launched their album, Luyando.
In the middle of one of the group’s mesmerising performances, which have seen them become a household name with a legion of fans in Europe, a woman jumped on stage and kissed one of the band members.
Apparently so good was the performance that another woman went home bra-less as she threw part of her lingerie on stage.
As the women went into such a frenzy, one reveller could not help but mutter: “Haa these guys are talented but because of women I do not see them going anywhere.”
Not that the guys are promiscuous, but obviously the reveller felt the temptation was too big for the lads.
Shepherd Mutamba, former Oliver Mtukudzi’s publicist, writes in his controversial book Tuku Backstage that at one time Tuku’s wife, Daisy, complained of how women threw themselves at her husband.
“Women throw themselves at Tuku…Up to now (June 2013) I get calls from people who say, ‘Tuku is my man’,” writes Mutamba.
Upcoming talented musician Ashton ‘Mbeu’ Nyahora was recently in the media accused by his wife of neglect and choosing to live with another woman met during one of his gigs.
A number of musicians and celebrities have had their careers ruined by failure to resist temptation from women who throw themselves at them.
So daring are the women that some literary do a striptease for the artistes while they are on stage.
Cleavages are exposed while suggestive dances are performed for the artistes.
During the early days of his career, sungura musician, Romeo Gasa once revealed to this publication that temptation from women was one of the major challenges musicians deal with.
“Hazvina basa kuti watiza and have ignored them while they do what they do as you perform, sometimes you find them waiting for you at the point of exit,” he said.
A musician who spoke on condition of anonymity confessed that artistes, especially musicians, faced a real problem with ‘too generous female fans’.
“Some of us come from rural areas and small cities and when you have some of the most beautiful women in the capital throwing themselves at you, we feel big and special that we rarely turn them away,” said the musician.
“But this has led to the suffering of bands.
“If the targeted individual is the band leader that is when you then get to hear of issues of non-payment of band members as funds are channelled towards pampering these women.”
The musician said it is not only careers that suffer, even the health of artistes.
“We know the dangers that arise from multiple-relationships, but the women are just numerous. One ends up having girlfriends in every town and at the end of the day people contract diseases,” said the Gasa.
“Families have also broken up, with wives preferring to leave rather than be exposed to diseases.
“This is very sad as the breaking up of a family affects many people other than the couple; there are children and other relatives to regard.”
An angry reveller at the Mokoomba show, Chenai Chigasa, lambasted the unbecoming behaviour.
“It is such ladies who lead to all women being painted with the same brush because there are many decent women who come here just to have fun and go home,” said Chigasa.
“But obviously there are other women, maybe from the ‘streets’, who come with other agendas and want to lure men and musicians, but this is not the behaviour of all women.
“We are all huge fans of these guys but we do not demean ourselves.”
There are women who have become household names for their acts on stage.
During the late Tongai ‘Dhewa’ Moyo’s time, stories of women throwing themselves at the legend became commonplace.
Women like Monica ‘Sele’ Chikasha became popular for twerking their bottoms at Dhewa’s live shows.
After Dhewa’s death, Chikasha continued to be a regular at Peter Moyo’s shows and it was even rumoured she was dating the lad who inherited his father’s band.
“The onus is on the musicians to make the right decisions when faced with such temptations; they know right from wrong,” said Chigasa.
“A single mistake might destroy a promising career.”
Sungura maestro Alick Macheso, affectionately known as Baba Sharo, is one musician who found ‘love’ during the course of his work.
Baba Sharo went on to marry Fortunate ‘Tafadzwa’ Mapako, who became the musician’s second wife, but the two did not last.
The nasty breakup and divorce nearly cost Macheso a career he built over a long period.
For a while, Baba Sharo was not himself on stage as dirty linen was washed in public.
Accusations and counter-accusations consumed the time of the musician.
However, women must not be blamed for artistes’ mishaps as it takes two to tango.