ZIMBABWE Original Rhythms of Africa (Zora) music maestro, Leonard Karikoga Zhakata yesterday dismissed a message circulating on social media saying he had cancelled the street launch of his yet-to-be named 11-track album in the capital this Saturday.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
The Hupenyu Mutoro hitmaker will on Friday pre-launch his much-awaited 21st album at Harare International Conference Centre, before taking its official launch to Harare’s central business district the following day.
The message circulating on social media reads in part;
“On behalf of Zora Music Etmnt (sic) I would like to apologise for all those who had shown interest to attend our street album launch as it has been cancelled due to some reasons, which were given by the local authority.”
Speaking to NewsDay, Zhakata said their arrangements and the programme launch remained unchanged, adding that preparations were at an advanced stage.
“Our street launch is on and I want to tell all our Zora fans that the message, circulating on different social media platforms is not from our camp. It might be from the enemies of Zora music,” he said.
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“The pre-launch concert will start at 7pm on Friday and our VIP tickets are going for $10, while ordinary tickets are selling at $5. On Saturday, our procession starts from Mbare Musika heading to the central business district.”
Zhakata said the pre-launch will be graced by various artistes among them sungura king, Alick Macheso, dendera musician, Sulumani Chimbetu, Peter Moyo, and gospel musician, Tinashe Magacha.
The musician said his forthcoming project, would be his best to date.
“I have catered for all tastes in this forthcoming album after some of our fans asked us to revert to the old fast beat that took Zora music to its dizzy heights in the 1990s,” he said.
“We have responded to them by bringing back the old beat, the current beat and creating new material altogether that will impress our old, current and potential followers.”
Some of the songs to be featured on the album include Moyo Wekutenda, Zuva Rake, Wauya Nei, Mutunga Dzese, Tsvimbo Dzehumambo and Kuzvarwa Kwemuporofita.
Since rising to stardom in 1994 with the smash hit Mugove, off the album Maruva Enyika, which became a street anthem, Zhakata has remained one of the country’s best performers.
