UZUMBA-born and bred Mukudzei Mukombe, better known as Jah Prayzah, says participation in Coke Studio Africa 2017 has helped him enrich his craft.
Coke Studio Africa 2017 is a reality musical programme that brings together some of Africa’s finest musicians of various genres who collaborate.
For the next 10 weeks, Coke Studio Africa 2017 will air on ZBC TV and Power FM.
It began on August 15 2017.
“Coke Studio Africa is one such platform that will showcase Africa’s incredible music by combining different artistes and genres to inspire a new generation of African music fans,” said Vee Chibanda, Coca-Cola Zimbabwe marketing activations manager.
Jah Prayzah described his participation as a ‘learning phase’ which has seen him grow.
“I learnt many things at Coke Studio,” he said.
“The experiences at Coke Studio assisted me in coming back home a better musician.”
The lanky musician’s collaborations were splendid as he managed to blend with fellow African stars.
His collaboration with Mozambican Mr Bow One, which produced a love song ‘Amor’, is not only captivating but highlights the huge combined talent of the two.
In the song, Jah Prayzah blends well with his powerful voice delivering love lyrics in Shona.
“One of the aspects that made me unique at Coke Studio is my instrument which is the mbira,” said Jah Prayzah.
The mbira, which is a uniquely Zimbabwean instrument, has spread all over the world, incorporated in various types of music.
Coke Studio Africa, has become a platform for musicians to share experience and expertise in different languages and instruments.
Jah Prayzah said Coke Studio Africa provided a platform for African musicians to network with fellow musicians, producers and many others involved in the music industry.
The musician also had the opportunity to collaborate with American star, Jason Derulo.
The artistes did a remix of Derulo’s 2010 hit ‘In my head’.
One of the objectives of the programme is to enable musicians to increase their fan base across the continent and in the global village.
Musical videos and songs released by Coke Studio Africa are of international standard and appeal to a wider audience.
Coke studio Africa does not only celebrate music, but African culture and traditions through language and music.
To share and define Zimbabwean culture with fellow musicians and the rest of Africa, Jah Prayzah fuses deep Shona lyrics in the collaborated songs.
Ammara Brown, Oliver Mtukudzi and South African-based Buffalo Souljah are some of the local artistes who have featured in the previous edition of Coke Studio Africa.
This year’s Coke Studio is bigger and better as it comes from the resultant merger of Coke Studio Africa and Coke Studio South Africa.
The merger resulted in participating countries increasing from 11 to 18.
This edition will be broadcast in more than 30 countries across Africa.
The production now includes artistes from South Africa, Rwanda, Angola, Togo, Madagascar, Mauritius, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe, among other countries.
Some of the renowned names this season include Bruce Melodie from Rwanda, Tanzanian Rayvanny, Izzo Bizness and Nandy, Ugandan artistes Bebe Cool, Eddy Kenzo, Ykee Benda and Sheebah, Khaligraph Jones and Band Becca from Kenya, Sami Dan from Ethiopia and Nasty C, Busiswa a well as Mashayabhuqe from South Africa, among others.