ENTERPRISING mbira musician Mujaji Farai believes the nation should invest more in music academies to preserve tradition and utilise cultural products as a way to foster national identity and unity.
Popularly known as Mukubhe Mukubhe in the arts circles, the mbira maestro (38), spoke passionately about the significance of equipping youngsters with arts skills as a way of making them self-reliant in their livelihoods.
Speaking to NewsDay Life & Style, Farai said it was through the skills he learnt from his brother, Farai Farai, who used to be part of Portia Gwanzura’s Hohodza ensemble, that he managed to play traditional instruments and fund part of his schooling.
He said there were many talented budding artistes, whose potential to express themselves through music remained subdued due to lack of training and exposure.
Mukubhe Mukubhe, who is part of a five-member band, Chayambuka Chasiyanhamo, indicated: “If we have academies to groom our youngsters, you would realise our tradition will remain relevant. Culture is the arsenal that either destroys or unites us as a people. Look at, for instance, what French colonies experienced; their tradition is compromised because the process of assimilation (assimilado) ensured it decimated cultural bonds. In the end, most of the citizens in those countries yearn to behave and look like the French, which I think is not the ideal way to identify ourselves as Africans. If we teach our children mbira, hosho or marimba and fuse even with modern instruments, that makes our art great as a unifying factor.”
Preparing to launch his maiden eight-track album titled Dhudhubwi next week, Mukubhe Mukubhe praised local artistes such as Jah Prayzah, Alick Macheso and Sasha Madhuve.
He also said he was keen to have collaborations shortly with Macheso, whom he believes, despite being a guitarist, can make enthralling musical compositions involving guitars and traditional instruments.
“My dream is to have collaborations with Macheso. He has always made fans happy through his songs. He is also experienced in enabling our music to appeal to a wider audience. We want to take mbira to a national level, as well as have an international appeal. Hence, I also cherish the way Jah Prayzah is reshaping our musical landscape,” he said.
- ‘Academies needed to preserve our tradition’
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Band manager Joseph Mbirimbau, who has been instrumental in Farai’s live performances and studio recordings, was upbeat about their upcoming album and their vision to set up an academy in Chitungwiza’s St Mary’s suburb saying, “We want to keep most of these youngsters away from the chances of indulging in drug abuse. In addition, we are Zimbabweans with a culture, so we need to safeguard our traditions and pass them from one generation to another. I dedicated myself to mbira because, as a band, we want to keep rekindling our roots. The upcoming album should be a game-changer and I hope it will mark Mukubhe Mukubhe’s great entry into an industry that demands uniqueness in terms of creativity and instrumental packaging. Mukubhe Mukubhe is great at that.”
Mukubhe Mukubhe said he hoped tracks such as Tsamba Yangu, Dhudhubwi and Makomborero will make a great impact, saying they are laden with messages that resonate with the lives of many fans who love mbira music.
