NEW kid on the block Mathias Mhere has come under fire for breaking the copyright law following revelations that he recorded a song previously done by Kudakwashe Kunyavapa. Report by Tawanda Marwizi Own Correspondent
Mhere’s popular song titled Favour is a replica of Kunyavapa’s track titled Ndakaiona from a 2010 album titled Favour. The song is on Mhere’s chart-topping album Anoita Minana
Save for a slight difference in some lines, the lyrics, beat and chorus are the same on the tracks.
The two musicians both recorded the identical songs at Lyt-On House Studio with the same producer, Lyton Ngolomi.
Kunyavapa recorded the song in 2010 and made a DVD for his album that same year. Mhere recorded the song last year, but claims he started working on the song a long time ago and sang it at his wedding in 2010.
Kunyavapa recently filed a complaint with Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) and the two artistes had a meeting at the association’s offices.
Zimura documentation and distribution manager Climate Munikwa yesterday told NewsDay that the two musicians had reached an undisclosed settlement after the meeting.
“Kunyavapa came here (to Zimura) asking how he can handle the issue and we suggested that they both (Kunyavapa and Mhere) bring their composing evidence before us. They did and they reached a confidential agreement over the song,” said Munikwa.
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Kunyavapa yesterday blamed Ngolomi (their producer) for the mistake saying he was supposed to tell Mhere that the song had already been recorded.
“When I called him after I was notified by my younger brother about the song, he was arrogant and told me to bring evidence of the song yet he is the one who produced it,” said the soft-spoken musician. Mhere, however, could not shed light on the issue saying the case had been solved at Zimura.
“You can talk to Climate. He is the one who brought us together and I cannot say much on that,” said Mhere. Ngolomi stood by his word yesterday refusing to admit the mistake he made in producing the same song with different artistes, but confirmed he did the track with Kunyavapa before Mhere.
“The issue has been resolved, but I maintain that it was not my fault. I just did my job,” said Ngolomi.
Ngolomi has also been blamed for confusing the market after producing beats that are similar to Blessing Shumba’s on Mhere’s latest album.
Who is Mhere? Silence Charumbira Entertainment Reporter
THE name Mathias Mhere is fairly new on the local music scene and most people cannot recognise him physically. But in essence, he is probably the most talked-about gospel artiste today.
Mhere was born in 1988 in Mukaro, Gutu, and grew up in the Midlands capital of Gweru.
While still in Midlands, he tried out his passion with the Mkoba-based group Rock of Ages as a vocalist, but moved to Harare in 2007 after failing to make a mark with the outfit.
The following year, he engaged producer Clive Mono Mukundu for his debut album Tinoda Nyasha.
Unfortunately, the project performed badly on the market except the video Jambanja NaSatan which is usually played on local television.
He took a long break, probably because of frustration, though he prefers to call it “market study”.
That was until he met Lyton Ngolomi in 2011 to record his hit album Anoita Minana.
Released in September last year, the album was initially mistaken to be Blessing Shumba’s owing to the striking similarities in style and presentation.
Mhere is married to Susan Dzinamarira and they have a son named Shayne.
He works in the printing and production industry running his own business.
This week, Mhere told NewsDay he was currently working on a DVD album which is scheduled for release at the end of March.
He says he is also setting up a band to kick-start live performances with the first gig lined- up for the Aquatic Complex next month. Mhere goes to the Apostolic Faith Mission church in Chitungwiza and says he is thrilled by the success of his current album.
