Ngoni Dapira

WHENEVER you turn on the radio these days or when you step into the club, it’s the track that you hear, that alone will tell you it’s the song of the moment, Yes, it can only be the collaboration track ‘Ngaibake’ by Freeman featuring sungura maestro Alick ‘Extra Basso’ Macheso.

The track has been on top of the charts for months now since its release end of August and Manicaland will have its fair share of seeing the duo live on November 8 at Watsomba’s Mandel Nightclub. Just like the song of the moment, ‘Ngaibake’, Mandel Nightclub owned by prominent Watsomba based socialite and businessman Lovemore Mandimutsira, has become the hot -spot leisure centre of the moment for live shows. After successfully hosting its inaugural show last month, that pitted Jah Prayzah and Jah Signal, the venue which is at the heart of Watsomba Growth Point, about 40 kilometres out of Mutare along the Mutare-Nyanga highway, has won the hearts of many.

Jah Prayzah at Watsomba’s Mandel Nightclub last month, during the inaugural show that officially opened the renovated venue for live shows at the leisure centre.

EasterTimesZim Lifestyle will be doing a countdown on the show, which is now eight days away, updating revelers on the latest updates in preparation for the momentous show which promises to be an early Christmas present for Manicaland revelers. Macheso’s publicist Tichaona ‘Tich’ Makahamadze confirmed the show and said this will be their first show outside Harare when Macheso returns home from his four cities Australia tour which was dubbed the ‘Zimoz Summer Festival tour’.

Macheso who was in Australia since October 17, was on a joint tour with the ‘Stonyeni’ and ‘Sweetie’ hit-maker Jah Signal, where they held shows in Brisbane (18 October), Melbourne (19 October), Sydney (25 October) and Perth (26 October) respectively. Makahamadze said the tour was very successful and rejuvenating for Extra Basso, as Macheso is fondly called.

“He will definitely come back fired up because he said the tour was refreshing for him. Macheso will perform at Mandel Nightclub in Watsomba with his full Orchestra Mberikwazo entourage and this will be his first show outside Harare when he returns home on Wednesday (today),” said Makahamadze.

He added that Macheso fans should look out for a new video from his last album ‘Dzinosvitsa Kure’ which should be out by December. Makahamadze unfortunately could not divulge which song they would shoot a video for. In a recent interview this month on the ZBC TV music reality show, Coke on the Beat, Macheso also hinted that a new album was in the pipeline next year, but said he is taking his time to produce a scorcher for his fans.

Macheso had in past years adopted a style of keeping his cards close to his chest as he usually revealed names of his albums a few days before release. The anticipated new album will become his 12th following, Dzinosvitsa Kure, Tsoka Dzerwendo, Kwatakabva Mitunhu, Zvinoda Kutendwa, Ndezvashe, Vapupuri Pupurai, Zvido Zvenyu Kunyanya, Zvakanaka Zvakadaro, Simbaradzo, Vakiridzo and Magariro respectively.

Macheso (left) and Freeman (right) in front.

On the otherhand the HKD boss, Freeman whose real name is Energy Sylvester Chizanga is riding on the crest of a wave from the ‘Ngaibake’ collaboration song, which is on his 10-track ‘Gango’ album released on August 24. The album named after the street lingo ‘gango’ which refers to a mixed grill, resonates well with how the album is a mixed bag, with tracks produced by different producers.  The album is also doing very well with songs such as ‘Muridzo’, ‘One Munhu’ and the title track ‘Gango’ receiving a lot of airplay on various radio stations. Although the ‘Joina City’ hit-maker has done many previous collaborations with other top Zimdancehall artistes including Winky D, Shinsoman, Celscius, Lady Squanda to mention a few, the collaboration with Macheso has proven to be a game changer that has upped is game in the music circles, and the album release was also a perfect timing, towards the end of the year.

His manager Stern ‘Minnox’ Chizanga also confirmed the Watsomba show and expressed their excitement about performing in Watsomba for the first time.

“Freeman will be on fire and people should prepare for fireworks for that show. We love coming down to Manicaland, but this will be our first show there this year, and the first show ever out of Mutare in Watsomba. The Gango album has been overwhelmingly received so far ever since its release and we are privileged to be sharing the stage with sungura legend Baba Shero on several of his shows out of Harare and the few we have done together in Harare,” said Chizanga.

Macheso’s star continues to shine as the two are buoyed by what they called an ‘unexpected’ success from their huge hit collaboration on ‘Ngaibake’. The track brought back Freeman into the limelight, whilst Baba Shero stunned many with his versatility as an artiste who can intertwine a masterpiece in any genre, even Zimdancehall. The track appeals to his legion of followers, across all generations, largely the mature, and the youths as well. The song became an anthem overnight, whilst the video directed by Blaqs featuring comedians Madam Boss, Mai Titi and Enock Chisale is also currently trending on social media.

Macheso with a different stylish look that stunned many of his fans that watched the video.

On Facebook Macheso is one of the most followed sungura musicians in the country where his thousands of fans keep in touch with him following him daily from all over the world. Ever since 1998 when Extra Basso stepped up to be a solo artiste, leaving Nicholas ‘Madzibaba’ Zakaria and the Khiama Boys, he has managed to earn a living from music and accumulate a lot of wealth in his own right, but the road to stardom was not easy for him as some think. His first two albums ‘Magariro’ and ‘Vakiridzo’ did not do very well and it was only his third album, ‘Simbaradzo’ that gave him the breakthrough he direly needed, with chart busting tracks such as ‘Mundikumbuke’ and ‘Amai VaRubhi.’ From there onward, most of his albums generally struck gold with hit songs after hit songs, whilst his energetic stage presence as a charismatic singer and creative dancer earned him a huge following at his live shows, wherever he performed countrywide and abroad.

Mandimutsira (right) with his friend Kiran Soma having a kodak moment during the inaugural show last month.

Meanwhile, Mandimutsira said everything is now set for the Ngaibake show. He said as usual there will be a VIP and regular cover charge, but said, everyone will appreciate the tight security that the leisure centre boasts off, including the two entry and exit points created to ease congestion.

“The VIP cover charge will be $200 (RTGS) whilst the regular gate charge will be $80 (RTGS). All forms of payment systems, cash, Ecocash and card swipe machines will be available. Come and witness Macheso like never before in Watsomba,” said Mandimutsira. Mandel Nightclub ever-since it underwent renovations has been highly praised for its spacious and well secured setup which can accommodate many people, especially uppity revelers that usually enjoy better at venues with VIP sections, for their convenience.