SUNGURA musician Romeo Gasa has claimed that many local musicians used juju [lucky charms] to woo fans to their shows and sell their music, but he will continue soldiering on despite dwindling fortunes.
BY OWN CORRESPONDENT
Gasa, who said he was baffled by his failure to rise to the top after releasing four relatively good albums, vowed he will not consult prophets to boost his music career.
The musician, who is currently trying to market his new album Mupedzanyaya said the use of lucky charms was a rampant practice in the music industry, as artistes often used supernatural powers to better their fortunes.
“Most musicians use juju or consult prophets to improve their fortunes and others perform rituals before they get on stage, but I have vowed that I will not do that. I will prefer to live in a thatched mud hut than popular using juju or supernatural things,” Gasa said on the side lines of a show attended by a meagre crowd in Mbare.
“I don’t care about being poor, as long as my conscience is clean before God, so be it.”
Gasa’s utterances come at a time when most musicians whose stock had sharply declined are flocking to Pentecostal churches in the hope of having their waning fortunes in the music industry revived.
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Among the musicians who have found the going tough and have sought solace in spiritual deliverance are Allan Chimbetu, Nicholas Zakaria, Taso and Maskiri who are all regulars at Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministry led by Walter Magaya.
In a move to keep himself afloat, Gasa trimmed his band members from 16 to 11 early this year.
The musician said music was a business, hence, his hands on approach on the day to day running of his band.
Since storming into the music mainstream after winning the 2007 Chibuku Road to Fame top prize, Romeo Gasa’s has experienced mixed fortunes.
Gasa, who leads the group Extra Valembe, has so far released four albums titled Sungura Compressor, Mufaro Kwamuri, Simbi Hombe and the latest Mupedzanyaya.
