The Sunday Mail
Takudzwa Chihambakwe
IT is not business as usual at Pakare Paye Arts Centre this year as the joint has positioned itself as the go-to place for quality musical experiences outside of going to regular bars and gigs.
Apart from the laid back acoustic shows that the owner, Dr Oliver Mtukudzi, usually stages at the venue for crowds mostly made of people from Norton, Pakare Paye has started to lure people from in and around Harare to be serenaded by top Zimbabwean acts.
Last month, the joint hosted Jah Prayzah alongside Tuku much to the satisfaction of the audience. In January, Tuku staged another memorable show with rising star Mbeu.
And on March 25, Pakare Paye will be the place to be once again for merrymakers as the superstar hosts sungura king Alick Macheso.
Sensational lead guitarist and vocalist Norman Masamba is also part of the line-up of a gig that has been dubbed “Dzvamu Tsvamu”.
It is a given that whenever Macheso and Tuku share the stage everything comes to a standstill, and Masamba’s inclusion is icing on the cake.
The Sunday Mail Leisure caught up with Masamba, who said he was looking forward to sharing the stage with two of Zimbabwean music’s greats.
“It’s my first time sharing the stage with the two greatest icons of Zimbabwe music and they happen to be the biggest inspiration of my music. I’m really looking forward to this show together with my band Point Blank,” said Masamba.
He added: “I’m a self-taught guitarist. I basically learnt how to play guitar by listening to the melodies in Tuku’s music. Even up to today I still adopt the same concept and fuse with my own feel. I really admire the simplicity Samanyanga puts in his work and yet the ultimate product is intense.”
Masamba said while he has not had an opportunity to interact with Macheso in the same way he has done with Tuku, he grew up on the sungura king’s music.
“I grew up listening to (Macheso’s) music way before I even thought I would become a musician. The first band I played with as a drummer after high school played covers of Macheso’s songs and that is when I learnt all the dynamics. His lyrical maturity has shaped my songwriting technique.”
Masamba — who also plays on Victor Kunonga’s band, Peace — said those attending the show would get a feel of some of the new tracks from his second album to be released in May.
“Currently I am working on my second album titled ‘SaMasamba Music’. We intend to release it end of May. Those who will come to the show on Saturday are most definitely going to get a feel of the new tracks,” he said.
“I really believe that those with a genuine and mature appreciation for Zimbabwean music are going to love music from my new album.
‘‘I have been so fortunate to work with the likes of Bob Nyabinde, Dudu Manhenga, the late Chiwoniso Maraire, Tuku and Hugh Masekela.
“The nuggets of wisdom I have picked from these artistes has contributed a lot to my growth in music and my new album is a total reflection of that experience.”
