TALENT scouter in the music industry, Charles Ayibeki (35) is now a music producer and songwriter.
Besides his upbringing in the mining town of Mhangura within Mashonaland West province, where he was born in 1989, Ayibeki is making a name for himself and musicians that he helps through songwriting and producing.
The second of three boys in his family, Isaac being the eldest and Ian the youngest.
With his parents, Charles and Netsai Ayibeki (both now late), employed at Magedhi Farm near Lion’s Den, Ayibeki spent part of his childhood there.
The family then moved to Richmond Farm, where Ayibeki grew up, before the family found itself at Chifundi Farm.
“This is why people in Harare call me Mwana Mhangura or Mwana Mash West. I grew up in Mhangura and surrounding farms,” he said.
“Judging from the projects I have so far produced this year, it seems I am more of a songwriter than a music producer.”
He is one of the leading producers in Zimbabwe after producing an album for Mathias Mhere titled Glory to Glory that featured hit songs Efizziber, Mudiwa Wemoyo and Hupenyu HwaLazaro.
- Farm boy Ayibeki produces music for fun
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He also produced Blessing Shumba’s album NdiMwari as well as Flame B (born Blessing Manyangadze)’s song Hatidzokere Kumba.
Another gospel artiste Trymore Bande, some of whose songs on the album titled Zodzo have made hits, is also part of Ayibeki’s long list of projects.
Ayibeki’s songwriting prowess saw him catapulting Sekuru Gudo into the limelight with his High Voltage album, which carries 12 tracks.
The hit song Wanyara Weru is trending on national radios and it’s the song of the moment in most rural beer drinking outlets.
His talent has rubbed off onto his wife, Forget Kuweyo, whose album Ko Dare Rangu Mwari is also under his stable.
The 14-track album consists of songs which blend jazz with traditional jiti and mbira.
It is competing with Sekuru Gudo’s songs.
Ayibeki is Makumbe Productions proprietor Gibson Makumbe’s mentor.
Makumbe produced some of Mambo Dhuterere’s songs and Chipo Muchegwa’s Ndezvemoyo, where she featured the late Terry G.
He has assisted by Olin Anderson of Kunashe Studios, Kuda Band of KB Studios and Joseph Makiiwa from Mutare and Homeboy Nobility, among others.
“I know some people don’t want to admit that I helped them through my skills as a producer, but I am happy with making my own name both as a producer and songwriter. Music production is a very stressful job. Now, I enjoy songwriting,” Ayibeki added.
Inspired by his namesake Charles Charamba, Jah Prayzah (born Mukudzei Mukombe), Tocky Vibes (born Obey Makamure) and Chiwoniso Maraire, Abiyeki says there is a lot of talent in traditional music.
“We aim to release all the projects that we have been working on in the past few months. These include Mbira DzeGorekore album, Manzwi Anoera Choral Group, Taller T album that fuses amapiano, Afropop, sungura and dancehall closure under Goshen Tembo,” he said.
“We are happy to get support from music fans locally and internationally who are subscribing to our social media platforms.”
