The Sunday Mail
Prince Mushawevato —
VERSATILE artiste Kireni Zulu could soon create his own football team.
The renowned marabi music crooner has sired 10 children and, resources permitting, he wants to add more to the brood. The super dad himself has 10 siblings and thus sees nothing extraordinary the number of children he has.
If anything, Kireni is ecstatic after welcoming baby number 10 on November 17 at Manyame 24hr Clinic.
“The heavens are smiling on me. I was blessed with a new baby last week and you need to congratulate me on this one,” he crowed last week.
Kireni now has three daughters and seven sons.
“My wish is to have at least 11 children so that I match my father. It is, however, going to be difficult since resources are now a challenge. Otherwise outside that, I would not mind having one or two more,” he said.
The musician-cum-author stays with all but one of his children at his Chitungwiza home. His eldest, Jadren, is 30-years-old and works at a supermarket in Kadoma, though he also has interests in music.
The other children are Radon, Pharen, Oren, Brenny, Lydan, Esin, Rasin, Falyn and Abren. How does the multi-talented artiste take care of this huge family in an economic environment that pushes the arts industry to the fringe?
“These things are carefully planned and that way you will never have problems. For instance, I have never had problems with my children’s school fees; the school authorities can confirm that.
“I make sure that each time I get money from our gigs after the weekend, I straight away go to pay the fees be it in part or in full. The school authorities trust me because I have created a good reputation over the years,” said Kireni.
To cement his “responsible father” status, he says the birth of each child is motivated by immovable property acquisitions.
“I don’t want them to suffer even after my time. In that regard I have made sure that I buy each and every one of them a housing stand. I have stands in Chinhoyi, Kadoma and Marondera. The eldest son has already received his since he now wants to do his own things,” said Kireni.
“The biggest of my stands is the one in Chinhoyi that measures 3 152 square meters. I want to develop the land so that I leave the kids with the Chitungwiza home. I am different from most of my fellow musicians; when they get money they focus on buy trending cars yet they do not have their own places to stay.”
Early this year he launched his debut book, “Miromo Yavakuru”, in Harare after decades of trying to get published. And again this year, after a six-year hiatus, the artiste is set to release his eighth studio production titled “Prophet Kitiwell”.
Songs on the album are “Judas”, “Mukadzi waZondi”, “Prophet Kitiwell”, “Chinoruma”, “Roti”, “Chihera” and remixes of “Mazai Adhimba” and “Wongorora”.
“I have finished recording the album and I will be distributing it the (Alick) Macheso way. That way I’m sure I will be able to sell at least 50 000 copies. I self-recorded since I have not only moved from Zimbabwe Music Company but have also taken away my catalogue rights from them,” said Kireni.
Kireni’s other albums are “Panyika Pano”, “Mazai Adhimba”, “Nyevero”, “Vhura Chivharo”, “Mupata Wachidembo”, “Marabi Music” and “Sekuru”.
His love for the creative industry, and to see others grow, has many-a-time seen him travel long distances using public transport.
It is not uncommon to see the charismatic artiste wiping sweat off his face and removing dust from his shoes at club entrances as he readies to start a show after commuting from home to the venue.
“Ndiri nyamukuta kumagitare (I’m a midwife in the music industry). I think my experience in the trade places me in a better position to help these upcoming artistes. They are trade hazards that they need to be warned about and I have given myself that task,” said Kireni.
“For your own information I even attend some of those events without being invited. Often I get to know about the events through posters and social media advertisements.”
He may not have a car, but he has, apart from much land — two public address systems. His band consists of six marabi queens and outside their usual Thursday slots at CUT Hotel, they have been doing low profile gigs mainly in Chitungwiza.
After launching his forthcoming album, the musician intends to go on a country-wide tour and then visit Mozambique. Apart from music, acting and writing, Kireni is also a journalist, having written for our sister newspaper Kwayedza in the late ’80s.
