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Zhakata protégé fights to reach stardom

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MOST musicians who have tried to imitate established artistes have found the going tough in the arts arena.

MOST musicians who have tried to imitate established artistes have found the going tough in the arts arena. The label “copycats” has made the journey to find their way to stardom a treacherous one.

Tafadzwa Muranganwa Own Correspondent

There have been tiffs among popular musicians and the so-called copycats.

However, for Leonard Zhakata it is different as he has blessed one Robert Jackson, his former band member to spread his “ZORA” genre.

Jackson, 32, speaks glowingly of his mentor whom he said did well in discovering his vocal prowess.

“Zhakata has done great in making me realise my talent after I went to audition for a place in his band.

“He just told the band that I could be a very good backing vocalist because of my vocal ability and since then it has spurred me on, ” said Jackson.

Jackson who now fronts a band called ATORA Music All Stars says he once crossed the floor to Chamu Boroma in 2011 after a 4-year stint with Leonard Zhakata, but their relationship still remains cordial.

The barber-cum-musician says music is not yet bringing dividends hence he still does his former trade.

“Music has not started paying for me so I am still looking for shows, but I have the zeal to make it,” said the artiste beaming with confidence.

Last year, Robert Jackson and ATORA Music All Stars were the Harare provincial competitions winners in the Chibuku Road To Fame competition.

Jackson’s debut album Nherera Mubhawa has six tracks that include the title track, Nyunyuto, Kangoma kaBishop, Kana Ndiri Wako, Nyakudongorera, Love General and Nyaya Dzerudo.

A track worth listening to is Nyunyuto in which he narrates an ordeal of a husband or wife who is separated from a life partner by death. He consoles the aggrieved partner not to stress him orherself, but take solace in the “soul of the deceased” — a belief likely to court controversy as it props the “life after death” notion.

The instrumentation and lyrical arrangement will pass for those of Leonard Zhakata if you listen to it for the first time. Robert Jackson joins a list of artistes who have followed the flair of celebrated artistes like Romeo Gasa who is widely acclaimed for imitating Alick Macheso, Sugar Sugar pursues the late Mukoma Ketayi’s style, Tendai Chipara draws from Leonard Dembo and Leeroy Kamusena undoubtedly follows the footsteps of his late paymaster System Tazvida. It remains to be seen if Jackson will equally match the ZORA “originator”, Leonard Zhakata.