IN 1994, Leonard Karikoga Zhakata released an enduring song, Mugove, which paved way for his meteoric rise to stardom. He was only 26 at the time.
BY SHADRECK MARIRIMBA
Over the years, the Zora music champion has been feeding local music lovers with one hit after another and most of his songs have proved to be didactic in nature, with priceless life lessons based on good moral values.
It is perhaps because of this running thread in his music that Zhakata — whose love for glittering outfits is no secret — found it easy to cross the big divide from “secular” to “gospel” music, although some of his fans felt let-down.
“I did not abandon my fans, but I have found out that living without God is the greatest sin any human being can have,” Zhakata told NewsDay at the weekend on the sidelines of his 47th birthday bash at Dandaro Inn.
“I will continue satisfying my fans with Zora music because there you find everything you want. In Zora music, you find biblical principles, which motivate one to live a blameless life.”
Zhakata — who is one of the very few musicians whose lives have not been tainted by scandal — recalled how one of his fans got angry after hearing that the musician had joined United Family International Church (UFIC).
The fan felt angry at the “betrayal” and Zhakata had to calm him down, assuring him that his music would not be affected by his newfound faith because he had always used it as a tool to cultivate a strong moral value system.
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He said for a long time, some of his fans implored him to take his music a notch higher by venturing all out into gospel, but he only took that step when UFIC founder Emmanuel Makandiwa echoed their sentiments the first time he attended a church service at UFIC.
“He told me through a prophecy that I must sing for the Lord,” Zhakata recalled. “It was the same thing many people had been telling me, so I thank God for revealing this to me.”
One of Zhakata’s die-hard fans, Cossy Rules, travelled all the way from Kadoma to join organisers of the bash.
“Zhakata has been my inspiration for many years and sometimes his music heals when you listen to it. I’m happy to be part of Zora music,” he said.
Fans who unveiled to the soft-spoken musician a “six-pack” cake took to the stage one after another to wish their music icon a happy birthday.
Zhakata thanked his fans for rallying behind him, describing them as “partners” in his music journey.
“Words are not enough to describe exactly what is in my heart, I love you all and you are no longer fans, but partners to the Zora music brand,” said the soft-spoken Zhakata, who is also well known for the all-time hits Hupenyu Mutoro, Batai Mazwi and Gomba Remarara.
He also expressed gratitude to his fans who presented him with a generator wrapped up in shining colours similar to his dress taste.
“Thank you for the generator. It’s not easy to fork out money to buy me this generator. May the Lord bless you all,” he said.
Fellow musician Somandhla Ndebele gave Zhakata the thumbs-up for his consistency in producing informative music.
Zhakata — whose last album Dhonza Makomborero was released last year — said he was taking long to produce videos due to other commitments.
“As you grow, you face a lot of other commitments and the rate at which you produce music varies, not because you have run out of ideas, but you would have committed to some other things,” he said. Zhakata has released 20 albums in his music career.
Zhakata, who has been working with prisoners on establishing ways to be self-reliant once they are released, urged Zimbabweans to buy the three albums he has recorded with them which will be released soon.
Lazarus Boora aka Gringo the comedian took time to share some lighter moments and described Zhakata as the champion of champions.
Also present at the bash were Dino Mudondo, Douglas Chimbetu and Leonard Mapfumo, among other entertainers.
