Nicholas Zakaria to set up Music Academy

Nicholas 'Madzibaba' Zakaria 'Senior Lecturer' is a formidable force in the music industry in Zimbabwe. He is indeed the grand dad of Sungura music having tutored big artists such as Alick Macheso and many others. News coming through is that Madzibaba is planning to open a music academy to assist upcoming musicians. This gesture is commendable and hopefully corporate organisations will chip in to make the project a success. Read on below:

In a bid to assist upcoming musicians realise their dreams, popular sungura artist Nicholas “Madzibaba” Zakaria, is set to build a music academy in Chitungwiza. Chitungwiza is home to many popular musicians and some have called it “the city of music”. Madzibaba said there were many upcoming and aspiring musicians in the city and his dream was to see them making it to the top like many former names from their neighbourhood.

“I have already acquired land in Seke Unit L and plans are underway to start work on the site. Hopefully by June next year we will be officially opening the academy,” said Madzibaba. He has called upon fellow artists and interested business people to support him in his endeavour. He has struck a deal with a music equipment manufacturing company for the provision of instruments that would be used at the academy at affordable prices.

“Instruments in Zimbabwe are expensive. So the music academy and shop will offer equipment at affordable prices. We have to make it easy for established and upcoming musicians to get instruments.” The academy will house a recording studio that will mainly be used by upcoming musicians. Fellow artists should take time and open doors to upcoming musicians that need assistance to realise their dreams.”

He said the academy would be open to musicians from across the country although the primary target was Chitungwiza. If his project materialises, Madzibaba will join the list of other musicians that have established arts academies like Oliver Mtukudzi who runs Pakare Paye Arts Centre and Clive Malunga who set up Jenaguru Music Academy.