Following the Melody
By Clive Mono Mukundu
Published by Monolio Studios (2017)
ISBN 978-0-7974-7730-8

THERE is no doubt music plays an important role in reflecting people’s cultures and traditions.
Music is not only an entertainment medium but a narration of people’s stories.
However, it is difficult to separate music from the one making it — the artiste.
Sometimes musicians carry with them an interesting story which is more important than the lyrics they sing.
It is refreshing to hear these stories from the horse’s mouth than to rely on hearsay or the media.
The local music industry has lost a number of great musicians.
Sadly, these have passed on without telling their stories.
As such, speculation on many aspects of their lives linger years after their deaths.
The late Andy Brown, for instance, did not share his story when he was alive and years after his death his life story remains a ‘mystery.’
The book under review this week is Clive Mono Mukundu’s semi-autobiography titled Following the Melody.
The book gives an insight into Mukundu’s journey as a musician.
Mukundu has documented his life, guaranteeing future generations an authentic piece with regards to his life.
Following the Melody is a mirror not only of Mukundu’s life but of many musicians.
What is captivating is how the author, like the late renowned writer Dambudzo Marechera, is brave enough to share his nasty experiences that many would choose to leave out.
“I went through a few changes in my life during the short stay in Tsvingwe. I started drinking beer excessively and had my first sexual encounter there, which resulted in trouble and regrets,” writes the author.
While musicians are prolific song writers, it appears they are not adept at putting pen to paper to record their life stories.
The story is reveting, showing the processes and events that shape a musician.
Rarely do we get a glimpse into the lives of some of the country’s great personalities.
The book is a story of a young man who decides to follow his dream of becoming a musician despite seemingly insurmountable challenges.
He comes from a background fraught with hardships and poverty.
“We used to live in a one roomed rented wood cabin in Dangamvura Township. The only piece of furniture that we had in the room was a small paraffin primus stove, nothing else,” Mukundu reveals.
He does not shy from subjects such as drug abuse and other misdemeanours that ‘superstars’ engage in.
He does not hide how alcohol abuse and illicit sexual behaviour, which included cavorting with prostitutes, almost destroyed his career.
“Everyone in the neighbourhood knew what I was suffering from because of the way I walked,” Mono recalls a time when he suffered from a sexually transmitted disease.
“Even the closest friends would look at my problem and tell me that my manhood might be cut off because of the way it looked.”
He also talks about how they were reckless with their earnings.
“Our weekly pay was not enough for us to seek individual accommodation after getting paid, we would buy food for the whole week and share the remainder of the money equally and we used it mainly on beer and mbanje,” he writes.
“I remember most times we would buy opaque beer called Kariba in a large tin that we would take to our room and buy mbanje in what was known as cobs and we would get high for fun.”
The book provides crucial lessons to upcoming artistes.
The music world is a cutthroat industry and this book will help young artistes navigate the treacherous waters of the sector.
Besides talent, the veteran musician and guitarist reveals that endurance is as critical as talent in music.
One has to be patient as success cannot be achieved overnight.
“Rejection is also part of the game, so you will have to face it. You might be booed off stage, or get bad press.
“In most cases by the time an artiste is accepted, he would have gone through a lot of rejection, at times both by music fans and people in the industry,” writes Mukundu.
“Rejection is part and parcel of the industry as much as acceptance.”
Mukundu’s autobiography is not about self-glory; the man who has worked with most of the country’s biggest artistes and in his own right has produced chart-topping music, chooses to dwell more on the challenges found in the music industry.
By writing his story, Mukundu takes responsibility and ownership of the narrative of who he is and where he has come from.
Speculation will not define or describe him, at least there is a personal account to visit for his life story.
One hopes that more personalities will document their lives for the benefit of future generations.
Following the Melody is a must read.