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Farisai Maeresera aka Fireman (centre) with friends who double as her dancers, Valentine Mazvigadza aka Vax (right) and Nyasha Charamba

Swagga T recently in Bulawayo
Zimbabwean dancehall artistes have taken the music sector by storm as many young people express themselves in lyrics and dance, signalling the new form of liberation to young people.
With music, each ghetto suburb has its own king and queen and the genre can spread easily because of such ambassadors.
For example, Mbare has its own prodigy in Ras Pompy, Gweru boasts of Legion while Mutare has Nyasha Zhuwao.

A round of applause to the teenagers!
However, though Bulawayo is most known for its rich Kwaito music and dances, little is known of a new dancehall star, Farisai Maeresera (17), also known as Fireman. The name Fireman is popular in the music circles. Hip-hop/rap singer Lil Wayne is one among several  male artistes often calling themselves Fireman.

But, this time the name has been adopted by a girl.
Yes, forget Barbie or Queen for name selection as the Bulawayo bred teenager said the name itself means a lot to her because she is the new star on the dancehall scene.

Asked why she chose the name Fireman she said, “I am like a life saver because I rescue people with music. I am the next big thing to come from Bulawayo,” she said.

She said she chose dancehall because it is the fastest growing music and is easy to understand.
“Dancehall has been my favourite genre ever since and growing up I was inspired by a number of international artistes but later got more motivation from our Lady Squanda, Freeman and Winky D,” said Fireman.

Growing up in an environment dominated by Kwaito and “boys” especially, she has managed to have a powerful fan base which is supportive and follows her music closely. “I believe talent if nurtured well, knows no boundaries. As much as I appreciate other forms of music, I have managed to have hundreds of fans in this region, which is an indication of massive potential within the dancehall industry this side,” she said.

The talented teenager said she writes her own lyrics.
“My lyrics are educative and aim at encouraging young people to be focused and follow their dreams. I write my own lyrics as I am much inspired by my friends. I see myself as the missing link in the dancehall circles as most artistes seem to focus on love and promotion of drug abuse,” she said.

Fireman says, “Music must speak to the hearts of man and act as a catalyst in any given way. As such my music is a cure to the sick and gives hope to the hopeless.”

Though in his early stages, the dancehall chanter has two supportive dancers who make sure that every show becomes a joy to fans.
“I sing with my friends who are beautiful dancers,” she said.

Fireman is studying A-Level Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry at Induna High School in Bulawayo.
She said she balances very well her books and music with the limited time she has.

“It is possible to be an academic and also be a musician for it’s a wrong perception that music is for the academically weak, but having strengths in both worlds is the way to go in this 21st century,” she said.

She denounced the notion that music at a tender age is for failures.
“I don’t mind having a career in music while studying other things and as a girl child I want to make a mark on the local and international dancehall scene and thus my future dream.”