Sungura musician Howard Pinjisi of Orchestra Ndorochena, who made a name for himself in music circles with his popular hit, Vashamarari, off the album Dadiso in 2012, has revealed his long journey to stardom.
Pinjisi started his music career from humble beginnings in Mutoko herding goats and cattle while playing a makeshift guitar. He never knew this would move him from rags to riches.
“Music brought some windfall in my life,” Pinjisi said.
“With music I have managed to change my life from rags to riches.
“I have managed to acquire a full kit of musical instruments which I use on my line of duty, especially when holding live shows.
“On top of that, I managed to buy a house in Manyame Park, Chitungwiza and a number of cars.
“Now my biggest wish in life is to assist orphans and those in need of care in life.
“I also wish to leave a very good mark in the music industry so that people remember me in life.”
The 38-year-old musician feels that the sungura genre has a very good opportunity to grow the fan base, particularly if musicians can think outside the box.
“Our genre can only continue to grow if only us as musicians can be able to produce unique, very good sounds that would appeal more to the people and stop being copycats of other musicians,” he said.
“We should also avoid changing sungura beat in the process of inventing new sound.”
Although the Mutoko-born musician has managed to create a name for himself through music, just like many other sungura musicians he started from humble beginnings.
“It all began when I was herding goats and cattle in the rural areas imitating other musicians with a makeshift guitar,” he said.
“I used to admire old school musicians such as the late Leonard Dembo, Simon and Naison Chimbetu, System Tazvida and Nicholas Zakaria.
“In 2000 I joined Ngwenya Brothers as a bass guitarist, before joining Gift Amuli and the Zvishavane Sounds in 2006.
“My breakthrough came in 2008 when I formed Orchestra Ndorochena.”
Beside music, Pinjisi has a steady source of income as he works in the energy sector in a leafy suburb of Harare.
He is set to release a new six-track album that is yet to be named in the last quarter of the year.
To date the Vashamarari hitmaker has released six albums that include Umbiridzo (2008), Dadiso (2010), Chenjedzo (2012), Ngandure Yengoma DVD (2013), Chirambawasara featuring Nicolas Zakaria (2015), Hukuru NdehwaShe (2018) and Zvikasashamisa Havasi Mwari.