The Sunday Mail
Dennis Chimanzi
ZIMDANCEHALL chanter, Maligakani Saizi, affectionately known as Kinnah, is a bitter man.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of his birthday bash held in the Harare Gardens last weekend, Kinnah alleged some of his colleagues and promoters were conniving to thwart his music career.
Sabotage, he further alleged, was the main reason behind his poor fortunes.
“If I wasn’t being sabotaged, I would be way better than many, if not all, Zimdancehall artistes. There are instances where my songs have been stolen and given to young artistes, without any credit,” alleged Kinnah or simply Mr Mbare.
The revered chanter has no kind words for some of his counterparts.
“Imagine there are fellow artistes that are dissuading potential sponsors or promoters from engaging me. I was shocked when I discovered this. They are going around telling anyone who cares to listen that I’m unreliable and addicted to drugs,” said Kinnah.
“I won’t say their names for professional reasons, but what they are doing is bad. We must support each other all the time.”
Kinnah started his music career around the same time as the late Soul Jah Love, Killer T, Seh Calaz and Freeman.
Of the lot, he seems to be the only one that has struggled to expand his influence, especially outside Mbare.
Poor health, Kinnah added, has also been a serious curse in his life.
The chanter has epilepsy.
“In some instances, promoters are sidelining me because I suffer from epilepsy. Some even want me to be a curtain-raiser for upcoming artistes yet I’m one of the leading acts in Zimdancehall.
“I’m told they are worried that I may collapse on stage and fail to perform. But that does not usually happen and I have seen through all my contracts most of the times I have been engaged by promoters,” added Kinnah.
He further poured out.
“There are also incidences whereby promoters try to fleece me after gigs. The gig would have been well-attended, by a paying crowd, then all of sudden you are told that the show was a loss. Some of the promoters are selfish and don’t even deserve to be called promoters as they are only after milking artistes,” he said.
Kinnah last released a studio album in 2017 when he did “Kudya Kushanda”.
The 18-track project carried hits like “Mudiwa Wangu” and “Mukorokoza”.
“I have the content but lack funds. If sponsors come forward, I will release several hit songs that will set the music market ablaze. It is unfortunate that I am being sidelined at the expense of upcoming chanters.
“However, I would like to assure the nation that I’m still around, very much talented and have much more to offer should I get support,” he said.
Kinnah delivered a flawless performance during his birthday bash, which proved that he is one of the best in the game.
Revellers could not have enough of the chanter and even requested that he return on stage after his scheduled performance.
Some of the songs on his playlist included “Musombo”, “Zvangu Zvauya” and “Mukorokoza”, which helped shape his music career.
Speaking on behalf of promoters, Partson “Chipaz” Chimbodza, who organised Kinnah’s birthday bash, noted the need for Zimdancehall artistes to be professional.
“Talent alone is not enough. They need to create brands by engaging professional managers that package their talent and sell it. The managers should also be the ones that negotiate on their behalf when dealing with promoters.
“Kinnah, and other artistes, must understand the role of a manager in music. They need to have proper managers, not friends, cousins or any other relative masquerading as a manager(s). I deal with him and have no problems, but that may not be the case with the next promoter,” said the veteran promoter.
