Why Baba Gari is afraid of cars

07 Feb, 2016 - 00:02 0 Views
Why Baba Gari is afraid of cars Evidence Tarabuka aka Baba Gari

The Sunday Mail

Prince Mushawevato
UTAKATAKA Express rhythm guitarist Evidence “Baba Gari” Tarabuka has emerged from a trail of destruction not once or twice but on numerous occasions making him the proverbial cat with nine lives. Popularly known for his sultry rhythm guitar vibes at the Kwekwe-based sungura outfit, the diminutive veteran guitarist has been involved in life-threatening road calamities yet he has escaped unscathed in all the incidents.
It is as if accidents stalk the senior Utakataka Express band member or, is it the other way round? In an interview last week, the free spoken but reserved artiste narrated a tale of anguish that haunts him in his line of duty. Although Baba Gari was not too keen on revealing much detail, this writer managed to get the artiste to talk about some of the episodes, especially considering he was recently involved in another accident. On December 31 last year, Utakataka Express frontman Peter “Young Igwe” Moyo and four of his band members, Baba Gari included, escaped death by a whisker when they were involved in a near fatal accident along the Beitbridge-Masvingo highway.
Peter sustained some injuries on his legs and back while one of the band members Bismark Maidza, suffered a broken bone on the shoulder. Interestingly, Baba Gari, who usually travels with the rest of the band on this particular day, New Year’s Eve, got a ride from his boss, Peter.
The Beitbridge accident followed another one that Baba Gari was previously involved in December 2012 along the Bulawayo-Harare highway coming from a performance at a national gala in Gokwe. Four band members were seriously injured in the accident. Also in 2006, during the peak of “Naye”, the talented guitarist with yet another fellow band member was involved in an accident on his way to Kwekwe from weekend shows in Manicaland.Says Baba Gari: “Accidents have killed a lot of people and I’m very much scared of them. But I have no option. Our work involves a lot of travelling, so this trend is a fact of life that I have come to accept. But frankly speaking, ndinotya mota (I’m afraid of cars). If I had an option, ndaisakwira.”
He explained how he ended up in the Young Igwe’s car.“I failed to travel with the rest of the group because I had some unfinished business home. Peter then called to check on me and since he was still in Harare, he offered me a lift to Masvingo. After the Masvingo gig he also insisted that we travel together to Beitbridge. And the rest is history,” he remarked. The guitarist who has been in the music business since 1999, however, hastily pointed out that contrary to the public’s belief, he does not subscribe to the notion that Utakataka Express or him are cursed on the roads. To date, Peter has been involved in about five accidents since becoming a full time musician. The trend was also the same with his late father. And many suspect juju to be in play. But Baba Gari argues that he has been involved in other accidents under the leadership of the late Tongai Moyo and even before joining Utakataka Express. Also, he highlighted that as one of the senior band members it is normal for him to be involved in more accidents than fresh members. “I’ve come across, witnessed and have been involved in a number of accidents. In some of the accidents people lost lives. But I’m thankful that God has been protecting me well. On the last two accidents, I managed to come out unscathed. In fact, I have always come out safe in every accident whether minor or life-threatening,” said the guitarist.
Baba Gari who openly boasts of having an archive of rhythm guitar timbres that can be used for the next 10 years used to be part of the Chinhoyi-based Bembera Express fronted by Leonard Malunga in 1999.
He then went on to join Aaron Chinamira’s Dendende Express after the turn of the millennium before settling for Boys DzeSmoko first fronted by Peter Tazvida and later Leeroy “Kamusena” Lunga as replacement to Lucky Mumiriki who had crossed the floor to Alick Macheso’s camp.
In 2002, he joined sungura musician Somandla “Soma’ Ndebele before finally moving to Utakataka Express in 2004. With Soma’s group, he recorded “Rovambira” and “Chinokanganwa Idemo”.
“Accidents are open to every individual or band member. Thus, there is no need to link them to supernatural forces. Like I said before, we are always on the road and as a result I have been involved in accidents and near accidents on numerous occasions. But that should not be an issue,” he says.
Meanwhile, the rhythm guitarist notes the Young Igwe has vastly improved his game. Evidence, he said, is on Utakataka Express’s latest offering “Mabasa aMwari” featuring tracks like “Samasimba” and “Mavanga”.
“Peter came on board basically empty music wise. But what he has achieved in the short space of time is remarkable. He is eager to learn and the good thing is he does so fast. As part of the old guard I have made sure I put my experience to good use, helping him achieve more.”
Wondering why Tarabuka is called Baba Gari? Speculate no more. Unlike BaShupi, whose name is a mere creative moniker, Tarabuka indeed has a son named Garikai and local culture dictates that one is called by the name of their first born child.

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