Award-winning musician Mukudzei “Jah Prayzah” Mukombe has
just made it harder to dismiss political innuendos from the title track of his
14-track album Kutonga Kwaro.
There has been hullabaloo over his mysterious album titles,
with the latest’s predecessor, Mdhara Vachauya, now being used as a political
seniority tagline in the ruling Zanu PF’s factional conflicts.
In the title track, Kutonga Kwaro, the Uzumba-bred’s lyrics
makes reference to the arrival of a gamba (hero), here to change the rules and
if that can be exonerated of any political connotations then it is utter
braggadocio, something off the ordinary for his usual humility stance.
Coincidentally, politicians across the political divide
were this year conspicuous by their absence, perhaps as a result of factional
wars, particularly in the ruling party which have spilled into music.
This left boastful “millionaire” Wicknell Chivhayo to take
the reins as guest of honour, filling vice-president Emmerson Mnangangwa’s
shoes after the senior politician officiated at Jah Prayzah’s album launch in
2015.
As expected, Chivhayo brought a noble price to buy the
first CD at $10 000 before extending an additional $2 000 cash for his wife as
a token to appreciate her for “taking good care” of the musician.
The original and fake CDs had permeated the street by
midday yesterday and while the originals were being sold for $5 at the launch,
pirated ones were going for the usual $1.
Meanwhile, promoters of the launch concert are probably beating
their heads against the wall for making a panicky move of roping in music
heavyweights Oliver Mtukudzi and Winky D at the last minute due to Nigerian
superstar Davido’s absence.
In classic doubting Thomas style, 2 Kings Entertainment
were quick to reduce the prices for the show to $10 for ordinary entry, forking
out thousands of dollars to add the two “fixers” in a bid to make up for the
Nigerian’s no-show.
Be it generosity or great belief in Jah Prayzah’s pull
effect, the promoters could have had a good night’s sleep afterwards as a
massive crowd turned up in solidarity with the fastest rising local music
export.
Time management was as usual poor as the show started after
10pm, with curtain raisers Baba Shupi, Nutty O and ExQ taking turns to warm the
stage.
Clad in all-white, Tuku was in his usual good mood on set,
attracting astounding melodic echoes of sing-alongs whenever he unleashed
singles from the archive such as Tozeza Baba.
Andy Muridzo’s 20-minute slot was just short, pure and
sweet as he belted his songs and never attempted any cover versions as he
usually does.
A surprise performance by Zambia’s Mampi made way to Jah
Prayzah’s over an hour-long performance, which started with the Third
Generation’s snippet rendition of Davido’s If before the My Lilly
collaboration.
Having featured Yemi Alade in Nziyo Yerudo and Diamond
Platnumz again, there is no doubt Jah Prayzah’s stock rise is something his
countrymen are proud of, but his mother would not ask for another better son.
The singer’s mother’s face was lit up as she watched
gleeful eyes glued on her son the entire time he was performing, especially on
yesteryear hits where she would occasionally laugh when the towering star would
make loud shouts as if possessed.
“Some say I will be possessed, but it is me who would have
possessed [the song],” he said before singing the dedication to his mother Seke
Mutema. Standard
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