HIFA dumps Macheso

Alick Macheso

Sungura giant has been dumped by the Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa), as he was preparing for the festival. Hifa said he had nothing new to offer this year. Hifa roars into life on Tuesday. After making initial contact and plans with Macheso’s management for the star’s return to the festival, the organisers of Hifa are reported to have abruptly cancelled the negotiations. 

“It was a blow out of nowhere. Just as we were preparing for the performance, we were told on the eleventh hour that we should release an album or risk not performing,” said Orchestra Mberikwazvo assistant manager Jethro Machanja. 

He added: “Sungura is the most popular genre in the country, which should even be incorporated into the school curriculum. Our lack of national pride is hindering development in our music and the arts as a whole. 

“How are future generations going to learn about this genre if we do not teach it in schools? The reason why other genres seem more popular abroad is because they are the ones being marketed by Hifa. If sungura is marketed the same way — it will also get a share of that foreign market.” 

The festival’s music consultant, Melody Zambuko, said she would have loved to have sungura, especially Macheso, at the festival, but “he has nothing new to bring to the show”. “We could have slotted him in, but it wouldn’t have done him or the festival any good.

“He told me that he has an egg that is about to be hatched and so I advised him to release the album first then we can market it for him next year. New things would also market the artiste to the visitors and local festival goers,” said Zambuko. Organisers of the festival have chosen to recycle Winky D, real name Wallace Chirumiko, who performed at the Saturday afternoon show last year and the Coca-Cola Green the year before. 

This leaves thousands of sungura music lovers somewhat stranded and with little to look forward to at this year’s carnival. Previously, Suluman “Sulu” Chimbetu and king of sungura Alick Macheso have performed at the festival. Promoters’ Association of Zimbabwe founder Partson Chimbodza of Chipaz Promotions said it was indeed sad that the sungura genre was conspicuous by its absence at the cultural fiesta. Ho

wever, he said the blame was not much on the organisers but local music promoters and sungura artistes who shun upmarket venues where Hifa scouts and most the festival’s patrons hang around. “It is difficult for the Hifa scouts to come to some of the venues where we play. It is just like expecting to see Dudu Manhenga at a gala. 

“What is important now is for the Hifa organisers, sungura artistes and local music promoters to work together so that this festival does not appear elitist. “You find that it is difficult for the ordinary Zimbabwean who attends Baba naMai Charamba’s family shows to come to Hifa. Is it because they do not want? No. It is because they cannot relate, therefore, the need to work together,” said Chimbodza. 

The music promoter also added that he would love to even sponsor the sungura shows “as would many other promoters who also want to be visible in those spheres and to explore new markets”.