Singer, songwriter and television presenter, Alexio Gwenzi aka Goodchild, has entered the new year in style after receiving a Kwekwe Music Ambassador award at the recently-held Kwekwe Music Awards.
The strong-willed and passionate musician has become a force to reckon with in the Midlands and this was evident at the ceremony which saw him nominated in the same categories with long-serving musicians such as Bob Nyabinde, Oliver Mtukudzi and the late Tongai Moyo.
NewsDay Entertainment Reporter Tinashe Sibanda (ND) recently caught up with Gwenzi (AG). Below are excerpts:
ND: How do you feel about receiving an award among some of the country’s best musicians? AG: I am humbled and truly honoured because this is my first major award and it shows me Kwekwe recognises our efforts to put the city on the map.
ND: Who inspires you? AG: Actually no one. I just do what I have to do by myself.
ND: What are the challenges faced by musicians in small cities like Kwekwe? AG: I guess everything happens in the capital (Harare) where there are more promoters, a bigger audience and more money, whereas in Kwekwe it’s so difficult even to just get an article written in a national newspaper or get one’s music on radio.
ND: How would you assist other artists from your city? AG: I am currently helping artists from Kwekwe by releasing an album for them which I am recording at my studio, Gud Boy Records. I am giving them the platform that no one wants to provide them — an opportunity that I got, that they did not get.
ND: When did you make a breakthrough into the local music industry? AG: In 2003 when I recorded my first ever single Iwe Fadzayi which was a hit on local radio stations together with Dudumduri which followed in 2004 before the debut 10-track album Daira in 2005.
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ND: What else do you do besides music? AG: I’m currently working for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation as a continuity presenter and I also host an educational TV show called Knowledge Check Point which is screened every Tuesday at 5pm.
I will also be completing my National Diploma in Journalism and Communications with CCOSA in March.
