The Sunday Mail
Prince Mushawevato
HAVING conquered the local music market, songbird Cindy Munyavi is now shifting gears and focusing more on Africa. The musician recently released a new single titled “Dai”, and has set in motion plans to conquer the continent.The songstress put Zimbabwean music on continental map in 2014 when she clinched the fiercely contested Best Female in Southern Africa Award – beating the likes of Zahara and Lira (South Africa), Dama do Bling and Lizha James (Mozambique) and Zambia’s Mampi – at the All-Africa Music Awards in Lagos, Nigeria.
She has six videos to her name and the most successful one is “Parere Moyo”, which won her an Afrima. The video was shot in Malawi.
Cindy boasts two local nominations for Zima and Nama awards and 15 nominations across different awards boards on the continent for her two albums “Kukuda (Loving You)” released in 2006 and “The Groove Theory” (2010).
But her previous achievements, she notes, are just the little of more to come.
“I felt like I had done everything locally and there was need to take my brand to a continental level where I have always wanted it to be from the start of my career in 2005. I have always wanted to be a continental icon. And this is a dream that I have been nursing, propagating and working on for a good ten years. And finally that dream is coming to pass,” says Cindy.
To an ordinary eye, Cindy’s dream of becoming a continental icon may sound a bit far fetched but the conviction that she speaks with coupled with sound management is certainly going to see her stealthily accomplish the mission.
When she was first nominated for the Afrima awards, most people were oblivious of how she made it to the list.
However, the nomination came as a result of a mindful effort by the artiste and her management led by Elton Byrce of Bryce Nation to tap into foreign markets across the continent.
The strategy, which includes releasing music and doing concerts in countries like Zambia, South Africa, Malawi, Ethiopia, Nigeria etcetera, has since further been improved and will definitely guarantee the artiste’s success in her quest for continental glory.
After the release of her new single “Dai”, a few of days ago, Cindy’s record label managed to secure a distribution deal with a Kenyan company, Calif Records. The East African music company, which also has a YouTube channel called Ngoma will be responsible for distributing her music online and physically in countries like Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Also, a Cameroonian promoter has already knocked on the artiste’s door to organise a collaboration between Cindy and a top female artistes from her country after falling in love with the sound of the new single.
Yet, the artiste duly notes her mission is not going to be a stroll in the park.
“I want to be as big as Tiwa Savage, Angelique Kidjo etc. I’m humbled by what the continental icons have achieved. But I need numbers for this to be possible hence the need to create new markets,” says the songbird.
Cindy, however, feel selfishness is the major reason why Zimbabwean music has not thus far had a major impact in the region. According to the musician, rhumba, Nigerian music, and house music made an impact in Zimbabwe because the genres systematically attacked our market yet Zimbabweans fail to do the same in other countries.
“When our music is taken abroad we talk of individuals like Tuku (Oliver Mtukudzi), Cindy in Malawi or Tariro neGitare in Germany. So as long as we are moving as singles and not packs, it is going to be difficult for us to make it on the continent. We need to unite and create a strong wave that will be difficult to resist,” she notes.
Cindy has made numerous hits among them “Ndidzorere Moyo Wangu” “Kutsvaga Mari” and “Ndiri Mupenyu”.
She also did a single “Hurombo” with Ti Gonzi and the video was released a few days ago. The new single “Dai” will also feature on her forthcoming third release “Music Vocal Cindy”.
Apart from music, Cindy is also into fashion and recently ventured into acting.
“There is going to be more from Cindy. I will be dropping three more videos and an album as part of my contractual agreement with Calif Records. I will also be making my debut on a film project in which I acted as a doctor. Apart from that I will also be on television as a fashion co-presenter,” she said.
“ . . . the mistake we are making in Zimbabwe with regards to branding is that we are not exhausting our talents. In fact, corporates have not endorsed us that much because as artistes we are yet to prove that we can give them value when they put money.”
Outside Africa, the songbird has performed in Brazil, North America, Dubai and the United Kingdom. The latest offering “Dai”, was recorded in Malawi.
