MULTI-DIMENSIONAL musician, actor and corporate trainer Tendai Chidarikire aka Action Sasa has recorded a new 10 track album titled Hona maUSA – which is currently at the premix stage.
Ropafadzo Mapimhidze
This album comes after reemerging on the local scene two years ago in a project, Vote In Peace (VIP), that was dedicated to the presidential elections.
After several years of venturing into acting, lecturing and other business ventures, Chidarikire relocated to South Africa and then Australia, but eventually returned to Zimbabwe.
The new album, a fusion of gospel, Afro-pop and house music, targets people of all ages.
In an interview this week, Chidarikire, who is a born-again Christian said that the stint he had in South Africa opened doors to the world and the possibility of an opportunity for Hollywood.
“Unfortunately, after I had been given the wardrobe and shoot dates, my mum became seriously ill from breast cancer and died on November 8 last year.
“I had been given shoot and wardrobe dates for different acting shots on the 4th, 5th and 6th of November last year and these would have paved the way for me to go to Hollywood and start in Cameo roles courtesy of my acting agency based in both SA and Los Angeles.
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“My mum got worse on October 26 and I left SA for Zimbabwe hoping to be back before the shoot and wardrobe dates and hence could not get back on time and so I lost out on that opportunity,” he said.
He added that although the agency had given him a grace period, it coincided with the day his mum died.
“I am yet to recover from the loss of my mum Ellen Chasumba. I sang the song Mwari Seiko Mwari, which will feature on this album.
“Her funeral was extensively covered on local television and I also got good coverage as I sang the song Amai to my late mother,” Chidarikire said.
A day after arriving in South Africa in 2007, Tendai, who is known for his popular hits MuZezuru and Ndiringe and was chosen ahead of fellow Zimbabwean actor of Yellow Card fame, Leeroy Gopal barely two months after settling in SA for the part in one of South Africa’s fast growing and popular soap Scandal which is aired on eTV.
He joined the likes of other Zimbabwean born actors like Luthuli Dhlamini who was lead actor in Scandal until he was moved to yet another production; Gopal who featured in Backstage; Dylan Wilson Max known as Kenge from the defunct Studio 263 whose major appearance was in SABC’s Jozi-H.
Tendai was also signed under an acting agency known as Jaffit Management landing him a role as lead actor on a DStv Sky TV News channel known as Cricket 20/20.
“In 2008, I performed with Allan Chimbetu at Boullevard in Rivonnia courtesy of ZimCafe Promotions then headed by Peter Moyo of eTV and SABC 2. “That was the beginning of my fruitful years. This was followed by guest appearance on “The Coconuts” an MNET sitcomm production acting as the late Vuyani Mbuli, who was SABC2 morning live news anchorman.
“To date I have, under another agency Talent International appeared in more than 50 commercials including Print Billboard Adverts. “I am currently appearing in all Sadc countries courtesy of Ultramel Custard in all major Pick n Pay supermarkets, Checkers, Shoprite and Game in Angola, Namibia, Zambia and Botswana. Zimbabwe only has the Pick n Pay Franchise,” he said.
“I attribute all these successes to Jehovah God Father because the waiting period to make it in the arts could go well over one year before a foreigner can break into this industry.
“I also would like give credit to Mr Bell my producer and his friend Joe Machingura, Tongo Munemo (lead guitar), Kuda Mololi (vocals and guitar), Velton VT Beats (housemusic beats producer), and graphic designer Eddy, professor Fred Zindi, Bishop Noah Pashapa. The Rusike Brothers and many more,” he said.
Chidarikire is currently involved with Transformation Africa Trust in Harare, headed by his friend and mentor Pastor Kumbukani Phiri, as a corporate trainer focusing on youth, church and leadership empowerment.
