BY TAFADZWA KACHIKO MUREHWA-BASED musician Abel “Colby Kein” Sifana has encouraged parents to support their talented children aspiring to be musicians and urge them not to give up on their dreams.
Colby Kein, who launched his musical career in 2009, told NewsDay Life & Style that he had a torrid time when his grandmother Dorcas Charamba and late mother Lydia discovered his passion for music.
“I started music when I was doing Grade 6 at Jersey School in Chipinge. Since people at the school liked dancehall music, I began to imitate Winky D, but I was inspired more by the late Lucky Dube,” he said.
“I liked his live performances. I participated at music competitions that were hosted every Wednesday with teachers and fellow students supporting me very much.”
Colby Kein said while he got much support at school, the situation was, however, not the same back home.
“I kept it a secret to my grandmother, whom I stayed with, that I had turned to music.
“When she saw books with songs that I composed, I lied that they were poems,” he said.
“One day my mother found out that I lied to granny and from there she started beating me up and burning my songbooks till she got tired. With time, she began to ask me to sing for her and eventually she sponsored my first studio recording of a track called Mazhanje in 2014.”
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He said his musical journey was characterised by ups and downs.
“I grew up under the Johane Marange apostolic sect which does not support secular music.
“I would like to urge all the young and aspiring musicians to never give up. All that is needed is to convince parents and guardians that you are on the right path,” he said.
“Parents ought to appreciate and nurture their children’s talents.”
Colby Kein has just released his second eight-track album Vheta Shamwari, which he says speaks about his ex-friend who snitched his girlfriend.
“I was prompted to write the song Vheta Shamwari by my former friend whom I learnt was a snitch and a gossiper.
“I trusted him very much, but he took my girlfriend and this pained me and I decided to work on a song to rebuke what he did and urge other guys to vet their friends,” he said.
Colby Kein’s album carries tracks such as Vheta Shamwari, the title track, Mama, Pindai Murenje, Mwari Wangu, Jah Haana Mhosva, Ndiudzewo, Waina So and Colleta.
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