SOME musicians enjoy the limelight by being ‘copycats’ of fellow musicians.
In Zimbabwe, some musicians have mastered the art of copying others, resulting in some being successful, while others remain unpopular.
Originality is difficult, but there is need to show some creativity and development in the local music industry.
Many musicians are ignorant of the fact that it is through being unique in music that one can be identified and differentiated from others.
Due to lack of innovative ideas, many rely on imitating fellow musicians’ ideas and works.
One local music promoter, who refused to be named, said many artistes fail to come up with their own ideas as a result of concentrating on how others are performing in the music circles.
One of Zimbabwe’s finest musicians, Mukudzei Mukombe (Jah Prayzah) is a good example of an original artiste.
Without a standard genre, the Uzumba-born chanter differentiated his music from others.
Just like Oliver Mtukudzi, Jah Prayzah became popular locally and internationally.
His music cuts across all age-groups and has managed to bag local and international awards.
By being original, Jah Prayzah managed to be one of the best musicians in the country.
Speaking to Patriot Arts, Jah Prayzah said inspiration and collaborations with local and international artistes propelled him to dizzy heights.
“I collaborate with both local and international musicians as a way of spreading my music,” he said.
There is no doubt he is gaining popularity by producing better music which is being appreciated locally and internationally.
However, in spite of the lanky musician’s fame, copycats to his music have emerged.
One such copycat is Andrew Ngwenya, aka Andy Muridzo, and he is not apologetic.
Like Jah Prayzah, Muridzo is not only Uzumba-born, but attended the same school, Musanhi Secondary School.
Muridzo has gone to the extent of having dreadlocks and dressing just like his role model.
One would mistake his songs for Jah Prayzah’s.
He is on record saying he was inspired by Jah Prayzah.
Recently, another upcoming musician from Uzumba, Innocent ‘Bontoman’ Chinyani, released an album titled MaVendor.
His music is just like Jah Prayzah’s, prompting one to question if copying is a thing for Uzumba-born musicians?
Just like his fellow copycat Muridzo, Bontoman says he was also inspired by Jah Prayzah.
There are some artistes who joined the music circles through copying other people’s works, but changed as they advanced in their careers.
When the late musician Tongai Moyo entered the music scene, he became popular for being a ‘copycat’ who revived the late Leonard Dembo’s music.
Moyo’s entrance in the music circles was welcomed since his composition of lyrics and instrumentation was a reminder of the great Dembo.
His sound and voice were similar to Dembo’s.
Tracks like ‘Tsamba Ndakanyora’ and ‘Hurungudo’ are testimony to this.
However, Moyo, as a talented musician, did not continue his career under Dembo’s shadow.
The late Utakataka front-man innovated and advanced his compositions until he came up with his own unique sound that contributed to him being one of the best sungura musicians in the land.
There are also many other examples of artistes who entered the music circles without any development to the music industry, but through aping fellow musicians, they have managed to survive in the industry.
Gospel singer, Trymore Bande, is one musician who made headlines as a copycat of the gospel legend Pastor Charles Charamba.
It seems most artistes cunningly copy the style of already established musicians with the hope of riding on others’ fame.
Unfortunately for Bande, listeners were not sympathetic towards him and his music did not overtake Charamba’s.
Although a celebrated musician, Mathias Mhere is also an example of musician who achieved fame after aping Mutare-based gospel singer Blessing Shumba.
Mhere did not only enter the music scene with a unique composition of gospel songs, but through the hand of pirates, his music ventured into the market marked as Shumba’s.
Many were ‘deceived into buying Mhere’s album Anoita Minana, thinking it was Shumba’s works.
Although he denies copying Shumba, the duo’s music sound the same.
Globally, the music industry has seen many artistes going to the top by copying fellow musicians’ works.
Zimbabwe, as a nation, embraces music as a way of entertainment, education and celebrating culture.
Therefore, is there anything wrong with musicians copying fellow artistes in the quest to entertain and celebrate our cultural values as Zimbabweans?