DISTINGUISHED musician Nicholas ‘Madzibaba’ Zakaria is still using his home as a base to mentor upcoming musicians.
The Sungura maestro, popularly known as the Senior Lecturer after mentoring great names that include the iconic Alick Macheso, expressed interest in working with budding artistes wishing to make a breakthrough in the cutthroat music industry.
In 2010 the Municipality of Chitungwiza pledged a commercial stand for the artiste to develop a sungura academy.
Speaking to Patriot Arts, the soft-spoken and down-to-earth star said he hoped the municipality was sincere and would deliver on its pledge to give him a commercial stand.
“In 2010 the Chitungwiza Municipality approached me and expressed interest to partner me in the work of mentoring and developing youths in the dormitory town and in turn they promised me commercial, residential stands and a personal secretary,” he said.
“Though I appreciate my role as a mentor, I feel doing it at home is not the best way to do it as it inconveniences my family,” said Madzibaba, as the musician is popularly known by his legion of fans.
The Khiama Boys leader said if provided a commercial stand, he planned to develop an arts centre that would provide upcoming musicians with a spacious and convenient place to develop their craft.
Chitungwiza Town Clerk, George Makunde, said the issue was yet to be finalised.
“Council is yet to endorse the issue but we fully appreciate the idea of our veteran artistes helping develop young talent,” said Makunde.
Besides Oliver Mtukudzi, Madzibaba is one of the big names, with vast experience in the music industry, who have committed themselves to helping nurture upcoming musicians.
Despite assisting notable names in the music industry to fully exploit their talent through honing their skills, Madzibaba has remained humble.
His down-to-earth nature has endeared him to fans and colleagues alike.
In 2014 Madzibaba said he would approach Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries leader Prophet Walter Magaya for assistance to build a sungura academy in the dormitory town.
The ‘Mabvi Nemagokora’ hitmaker is among prominent personalities who joined PHD Ministries headed by the charismatic Magaya who has not only provided spiritual upliftment but extended financial support to those in need.
According to Zakaria, the plans for the sungura academy will come into fruition with the support of various sponsors.
Madzibaba remains on the apex of the sungura genre due to the maturity and depth of his music.
Though the sungura genre was dominated by Ephram Joe and his band, the Sungura Boys, the Khiama Boys led by Madzibaba came onto the scene helping revive the genre whose fortunes were waning after the demise of the Sungura Boys in the mid-eighties.
Madzibaba led a group whose individual members went on to become big names in their own right.
Members of the group included the inimitable System Tazvida, who played the rhythm guitar, Alick Macheso (bass), Silas Chakanyuka (drums) and Zakaria Zakaria (sub rhythm guitar).
The late Tazvida went on to form the hugely successful music group, the Chazezesa Challengers, and his music remains popular today.
And the current sungura maestro Alick Macheso, as well as the supremely talented guitarist and brother to Nicholas, Zakaria Zakaria, are another testimony of the capabilities of Madzibaba as a ‘lecturer’.
Macheso’s Orchestra Mberikwazvo might be going through a rough patch, but the group is arguably one of the best sungura outfits of all time.
Meanwhile, Madzibaba is working on his 27th album and will rope in upcoming artistes who include Howard Pinjisi.
Work on the album is expected to be complete by July.
Madzibaba was born in 1957 and grew up on farms in Mazowe.
Other hits from Madzibaba include ‘Ruvheneko’, ‘Chiedza’, ‘Dzidziso’ and ‘Tokundika Here?’.