SHOWBIZ: At home with Young Igwe

Andrew Moyo recently in Kwekwe

ON stage, he dazzles fans with his energetic and hard to forget act — dishing out timeless sungura hits that are spiced with a rumba flare.

Several incidents have left him wearing the womaniser tag, with the occasional wind of sex scandals blowing in his direction. Known to his fans as Young Igwe, Peter Moyo has since having taken over the reins at Utakataka Express after his father’s death, been perfecting his act and with his band’s current form, he is billed to be the next big thing in sungura music.

The ambitious musician, who is in the studio putting final touches to his second album, has a life outside music.

Last week, The Sunday Mail Leisure visited the maturing artiste at his home in Kwekwe, in a bid to find out how he spends his time when he is not behind the microphone, rehearsing or on an actual stage.

The house, which Peter’s father Tongai had started building when he passed on in 2011, is indeed an architectural masterpiece. The stylish accommodations, which seem to be out of place in the high density suburb of Mbizo 20, are befitting for the young Utakataka Express boss.

When the news crew arrived at Peter’s residence, the sungura prince was on the brick tiled driveway, wheel-spanner in hand, trying to change a tyre on his Jeep Cherokee.

Two other cars, a blue Mercedes Benz E320 and a Nissan Chariot were parked in yard. Hanging on the washing line were dozens of soaking designer outfits that were still dripping, waiting for their turn to be showcased on stage.

Clad in beach shorts and a black muscle top, which revealed the chiselled body of a person who works out regularly, the young man invited us inside the house where we were introduced to his grandmother, Mbuya Chihera, who was sitting on a mat in the lounge.

Scanning the lounge as well as the adjacent dining area, I got the impression that entertainment must be paying, with expensive furniture and modern décor giving it a standard of elegance.

The good relationship between Peter and his grandmother cannot be questioned as the young man immediately stationed himself on a sofa besides her. Several minutes later, his mother walked in and she was introduced as “the woman who cooks for me and makes sure that my clothes are always clean and ironed when I’m on stage”.

Peter seemed relaxed after a long weekend of strumming guitars and touring.

“We had a show yesterday (last Sunday) with Jah Prayzah and (Alick) Macheso at Mbizo Stadium so today I am just relaxing but from tomorrow onwards I will be busy,” said Peter.

Being the main breadwinner for probably the whole clan, which might seem like a daunting task for the 26-year-old, he has taken the bull by its horns and is managing to carry out the task before him.

Besides being an artiste, the upcoming star is also a farmer — his sources of income are diverse but the most lucrative one is his chicken business in Sesombe, Zhombe.

“In showbiz we only get to work during weekends, so during the week I spend most of my time at my plot where I am running a successful chicken project.

‘‘I think in the near future I am also going to get into the pig business because I have realised that agriculture pays,” said Peter.

With a capacity to supply 200 chickens per day — it seems like business is booming for the “Mushonga Mukuru” singer.

“People are supporting me a lot because if I slaughter 180 chickens, it can take me less than two hours to deliver all of them to my customers. I believe that some people are buying my chickens simply because it is Peter Moyo who is selling them and I am grateful. Every day I receive calls from people from as far as Harare, ordering chickens by the dozen, so these days everywhere I go for a performance, I load them up in the car.”

With Kwekwe being a mineral rich town, Young Igwe has also established himself as a player in the gold trade.

“We have plenty of gold in this area and I am also getting myself dirty with red soils as I continue to find ways to support my family, broaden my income base and establish myself as a businessman.”

His art is not limited to music but also spreads to the designing sphere.

“I design my own outfits, so every time you see me on stage I will be wearing my own creations. I don’t even remember the last time I bought a suit from a shop, I just draw my designs, select the fabrics and send them to my tailor.”

The Young Igwe neither drinks nor smokes — he prefers playing football during his spare time.

“Football has always been my passion, so every chance I get I train with either Chrome stars or GMB and play social soccer as well.”

With all the fame and money that comes with it, the artiste has ruled out the issue of marriage at the present moment, a sentiment which his grandmother did not take very well saying that she would also want to hold his children before she dies.

“Ngaaroore. Anoda ndife ndisina kubata mwana wake mumaoko? (He should marry. Does he want me to die before I see his child),” queried Mbuya Chihera.

Said Peter: “At the moment I am not thinking about marriage because I think I still need to grow up. I still need four more years of bachelorhood so I can basically say I will get married after I turn 30.”

Despite the bad boy image that has become synonymous with Young Igwe, both his mother and grandmother believe he is a responsible young man.

His mother, Getrude Chirwa, said that she had never had problems with him and was grateful that he didn’t drink or smoke. A devout Christian, Getrude said that her son sometimes accompanies her to church, kumasowe.

She also revealed her son’s favourite meal plan and surprisingly topping the list was cereal for breakfast, rice and lacto for lunch and a supper that consists of macaroni and chicken stew.

Young Igwe stays with his mother, grandmother and three siblings who all look up to him as the father of the house. He says he takes care of almost all his other family members dotted around the country and those who live in the rural areas.