The Sunday Mail
Society Reporter
DANIEL Gonora, the blind sungura musician who made a name for himself by holding live shows on pavements in Harare’s central business district, has relocated to South Africa.
Affectionately known as Baba Gonora, the musician told The Sunday Mail Society from his new Johannesburg base that he believes his move will earn him fame and fortune.
“I had no choice. I had to take with me my entire band,” said Gonora, whose band includes his first-born son and daughter.
The visually impaired musician accused local promoters of greed, saying they shun upcoming artistes.
“Music promoters in Zimbabwe are greedy and do not want to work with upcoming artistes and musicians living with disabilities. On several occasions, we were approached by promoters but nothing came out of it,” said the musician.
For two decades, he said, local promoters shunned him.
South African promoters are, according to Gonora, more accommodative than their Zimbabwean counterparts.
“In South Africa, I am performing at live shows with other able-bodied musicians. I am earning more than what I was getting in Harare and I am not regretting the move.”
This is not the first time the musician has moved to South Africa.
“For five years, I was a beggar on South African streets before I returned to Zimbabwe some two decades ago. I have friends here and the working environment is very good.”
He, however, has since managed to buy a house in Harare’s Stoneridge suburb from the money he got from begging.
Last year, Gonora, together with his son Isaac, performed in Italy.
“We had a very good time in Italy. We got a lot of money during this tour and part of the money was used to buy studio equipment, guitars, drums and amplifiers,” he said.
“I came with a lot of prized possessions and it would not make sense for me to use these instruments during live street performances. I no longer want to beg. All I want is to do my work in a professional manner.”
Gonora, who has two wives, is currently working on a new album that is set to be launched in Harare before the end of March.
