WHEN Mai Patai, a gospel musician from Gweru, was announced
as the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) People’s Choice winner last weekend,
many quizzed how an artiste, whose brand and music was not known by many, had
won.
Research, however, has shown that Mai Patai (real name
Respina Patai), an almost forgotten musician who this year became the first
woman to make it into the Coca-Cola Radio Zimbabwe Top 50 top three, was making
strides in the music industry with her Punish the Devil album.
With her song – Anokomborera, Mai Patai, who most will
remember from the early 2000s for the Mazambara hit, beat heavyweights Jah
Prayzah and Winky D to win the People’s Choice Award. The question most have
been asking as a result is how on earth did she beat these two artistes who
fill venues and have thousands of followers on social media?
Well, for a start, Mai Patai said she was popular because
of her songs which people can relate to as they are about the struggles people
face. She said through her songs, people find healing, peace and love.
“I’m proud that I’m the first woman to win this award. I’m
not surprised by how people are debating about it (Nama win) because they
forget that the winner is determined by votes (and not just popularity on the
streets or social media including the amount of airplay one receives on radio),”
she said.
“My songs are popular among many Zimbabweans who’re facing
challenges because of the unstable economy and natural disasters (Cyclone
Idai). Through my songs, people find peace and comfort, that’s why I became
their choice.”
The 40-year-old, whose Anokomborera track garnered 49 487
votes, said the debate around her victory also reflects the gender stereotypes
which are affecting female musicians in the local music industry.
“My fellow female artistes should never lose hope because
people out there judge us. Some say we don’t deserve to be on top because we’re
women but I say, women should keep doing their thing,” she said.
Asked how she mobilised her fans to vote for her, Mai
Patai, who is a member of the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) in Zimbabwe, said
like any other artiste, she used social media. She said she never asked the
church to vote for her, contrary to what most people have been saying.
“I asked my fans to vote for me on social media and if
there’s anyone from my church who voted for me, it’s because they love my music
not because I asked for votes from the church,” she said.
“My strategy was using platforms like Whatsapp fan groups,
Facebook and Instagram. Every day, I made sure I reminded people to cast their
votes.”
The musician said having many followers on social media
does not equate to votes, something that most people do not seem to understand.
“To those who’re saying I didn’t deserve to win because I’m
not popular (on social media), my answer is I’m not popular to those who don’t
like my music because normally people follow what they want.”
She said God qualifies the unqualified and her victory is a
sign that it is God who determines who wins a battle.
“The battle is not for the swift, but the chosen ones.
Before the eyes of people, I know I don’t qualify, but to God, I’m the right
candidate. So if God be for me, who can be against me?” Chronicle
0 comments:
Post a Comment