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Nicholas Zakaria

Arts Correspondents
All is not well in sungura godfather Nicholas Zakaria’s camp following band members’ protest over remuneration.
The musician last week cancelled a show that was slated for Chikwanha Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza after two of his band members quit his Khiama Boys over a salary dispute.

The members, dancer Ali Hussein and guitarist Nelson Longman, are said to have announced they would not be part of the show on the day of the gig forcing the sungura musician, popularly known as Madzibaba or Senior Lecturer, to cancel the show.

The duo joined Itai Muchawaya’s group on the same day. Itai is the son of late musician Ketai Muchawaya.

Sources say the disgruntled duo told Khiama Boys band manager that they were fed up with disputes over depreciating salaries.

“They told manager Tapfumanei that they were fed up with salary disputes and they were moving on,” said the source.

The dancer and guitarist are said to have accused Madzibaba of taking the band to places where they are not getting reasonable returns.

However, Madzibaba downplayed the issue and said communication breakdown had led to the cancellation of the show

“We cancelled the show because some of our band members were not aware of the assignment. There was comminication breakdown and only a few of the band members came for the show.”

Madzibaba confirmed two band members had left but said they quit after the weekend.

“They were in our Monday meeting and they did not say anything about their intention to leave but I am now told they have joined Muchawaya,” he said.

The musician admitted they were not getting enough returns to reward the band as expected because things were hard for them.

Madzibaba said the band members were failing to understand that things were no longer the same in showbiz.

He said business used to be better in mines and remote areas when he first performed there, but the going is now getting tough.

“We have retreated to the mines but there have been numerous retrenchments at these establishments and numbers continue to drop at our shows. People have either relocated or do not have money to attend shows.

“We used to get cash but now thing are getting low so these guys are failing to understand that,” he said.

The “Tsamba” hitmaker said he has already replaced the two members that left.

“Our shows are still on. We have replaced the two and we are continuing to perform at our usual venues and also going to new places.”

Tomorrow the musician is expected to perform at Legends Sports Bar in Marondera with Extra Kwazvose.

The musician said he was looking forward to a great show as he was sharing stage with familiar faces in sungura.

“I worked with some of these guys when they were at Alick Macheso’s Orchestra Mberikwazvo and I know how experienced they are,” he said.He said he will be sampling some of the songs from his coming album that will be released end of this year.

Owner of the bar Daniel Masaiti said he was optimistic of a good show.

“We are not worried about problems in Zakaria’s band because we know he is a professional musician who has been in the industry for years. He knows how to deal with such problems,” he said.