The Sunday Mail
Dennis Chimanzi
WHEN Soul Jah Love — born Soul Musaka — passed away some three years back, many believed one of his several protégés, particularly from the Conquering Family, would rise and smoothly fit into his shoes.
The gifted singer breathed his last on February 16, 2021.
The artiste, who was also affectionately known as Chibaba, was one of the pioneers and drivers of Zimdancehall.
The gifted composer and singer was simply in a class of his own.
He was so influential that so many aspiring chanters tried to copy his style when he was alive and even after his death.
They copied his work, dressing, speech and gestures.
Names that quickly come to mind include Jah Child, Lukkoh, Reflex Mausa, Ras Pompy, Spiderman, Chipoko ChaSauro and Soul Jah Love Lite.
However, the copycats — or should we say protégés — have seemingly run out of steam.
They are struggling to go beyond the ordinary or at least fill the freestyle deity’s shoes.
Jah Child is reported to have crossed the mighty Limpopo in search of the proverbial greener pastures in Mzansi, where is doing menial jobs.
“He is hustling in South Africa, but with little or no focus on music. His career nosedived following that camera scandal. We rarely communicate, but I have been following what he is doing. I do not think that he still has a music career to talk about,” said his former manager Blessing Mzaza.
Spirited efforts to get in touch with Jah Child from his South African base were futile.
Enter Chipoko ChaSauro, who is also known as Beezman.
The chanter has an impressive grasp of Soul Jah Love’s touch.
Only an attentive ear can quickly detect when he is imitating the late singer.
Sadly, his career has failed to launch.
Promoters and fellow musicians who want to work with Chipoko ChaSauro struggle to get in touch with him.
He often does not have a contact number and is of no fixed abode.
The last time he had a major outing was during Soul Jah Love’s commemoration gig held in Harare late last year.
Chipoko ChaSauro spends most of his time hanging out with friends in the ghetto, doing God knows what.
“I am talented and I have potential to go far but I have faced resistance and been attacked at times by people, including fellow musicians, who feel I have no right to imitate Soul Jah Love. That has affected me a lot,” he once told The Sunday Mail Society in an interview.
Ras Pompy — born Nyasha Reginald Mano — blamed drugs for derailing his career.
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“I feel I was much better with my music in the early days compared to now. If I had not been dragged into drugs, I could be on another stage by now. However, I thank God I am now reformed, but, sadly, I already blew my chances to succeed,” said Ras Pompy.
Takura “Blot” Chiwoniso faces a similar predicament.
At one point, he spent some time in prison over drug and substance abuse.
“During my prime days, between 2014 and 2016, I was a promising talent and many felt I could get to the same level as Soul Jah Love. However, my career plunged after I got involved in drugs. My prayer at the moment is for God to restore my old touch,” said Blot.
However, former Soul Jah Love’s manager Benji Nyandoro believes Blot can still get his act together.
“I believe Blot is the best fit. He is lyrically talented,” said Nyandoro, who is also Jive Zimbabwe’s founder and director.
Music producers, however, feel that the void left by Soul Jah Love will be difficult to fill.
“I am the one who recorded Soul Jah Love before his untimely death in 2021. The late singer was extremely talented and always gave his best in the studio and on stage,” said Michael Murumbi, who is also known as PTK.
Last year, PTK produced the Bodyslam 02 riddim, which featured Tipsy, Hwinza, Blot, Quality and Culture Love, but it got a lukewarm response.
“When I returned from South Africa last year, I produced the second part of the Bodyslam riddim, which was far much better than the first one. However, it flopped because it lacked characters like Soul Jah Love.”
The producer believes a lot of talent is being destroyed by lack of focus.
“Jah Child, Ras Pompy and Reflex Mausa were promising talents with potential to fill the void left by Soul Jah Love. The problem with these youths is that they are always involved in unnecessary scandals. Jah Child, on most occasions, is always dealing with the police for the wrong reasons . . . ,” said PTK.
Chillspot’s DJ Fantan, who credits part of his rise to Soul Jah Love, is equally troubled.
“We are recording several young talents, the likes of Master H, Bazooker and Enzo Ishall, but to be honest, I cannot compare any one of them to the late chanter,” he said.
“We have so many upcoming artistes who have the potential to scale dizzy heights, but they are lacking proper guidance.
“As a music producer, I think one day I will have a mentorship class focusing on how best they can expand their music careers.”
Patson “Chipaz” Chimbodza weighed in.
“Sauro was a crowd puller because of his talent.
“His death affected us a lot as music promoters. Attendance at our events is no longer as good as it was during his time,” said Chipaz.
The development, he added, was placing Zimdancehall under threat from competing genres like Zim hip-hop.
