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Tawanda Marwizi Arts Correspondent
The emergence of powerful genres like Zimdancehall has threatened sungura music.

Sungura’s upcoming musicians have found it difficult to make it big on the music industry, while dancehall has been dominating.

Dancehall has managed to win the hearts of youths in the country.

With most of the chanters coming from Mbare their shows have been well attended, restricting some sungura musicians to rural areas.

Alick Macheso, who turned 48 years last Friday, has been considered one of the best sungura artistes in the country.

Speaking on the sidelines of his birthday in Chitungwiza on Friday night Macheso vowed to defend the genre until he dies.

He argued that sungura is a genre that can stand the test of time and he would play it for many years.

“Yes dancehall has been dominating for the past years but sungura is part of our culture and we will defend it as much as we can. I will defend it to the grave,” he said.

The musician said the genre will not fade away as the new crop of musicians are working hard to improve.

“I take time to listen to songs from upcoming artists and I think they are doing justice to the genre. It will not easily fade away just like that,” he said.

His album “Tsoka Dzerwendo” has been well received by fans with critics arguing that he managed to bring back the genre on the limelight.

Macheso said he would not retire from music since artistes have no pensions.

“It does not make sense for us musicians to say we would retire at this age because we don’t have pensions. This is the time we try to invest so that when we die our children will have something to benefit from,” he said.

For him the latest album title tells his journey to today.

“The album title was timely because at 48 a lot has happened in my life but my mother, family and fans have stood by me,” he said.

Musicians that include Suluman Chimbetu, Leonard Zhakata, Peter Moyo, Progress Chipfumo and Faheem Somanje and Freeman performed at the event.