The Sunday Mail
HAVE you ever watched a television programme that makes your mind literally go to war after it ends. Guess you are already wondering what we are talking about?
Well, let us not go in circles.
Try Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation-Television(ZTV)’s “Living Legends” — that is if you have not watched it before.
The show will certainly leave you with a bitter-sweet smile! After watching the prime-time series (a good concept for the record), confusing signals — whether to be happy or disappointed — instantly pop up. The show gives a wistful feeling among viewers as it links them mostly with yesteryear greats from various spheres of life as they narrate their rise to stardom.
Presented by Masceline “Massy” Bondamakara, the programme has so far hosted some of the country’s stars that deserve a place in our Hall of Fame. George Shaya, Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa, Charles Manyuchi, Alick Macheso, Vitalis Takawira, Jonah Moyo, Leroy Gopal, Hosea Chipanga, Knowledge Kunenyati, Elliot Mujaji, Jesesi Mungoshi, the late Dr Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi and Charles Mungoshi, among others, have already been part of the show.
Massy’s ability to attract these legends to her show is just amazing. She is probably the envy of most journalists. Most past and present celebrities she engages are either interview-shy or difficult to get hold of.
She certainly has tact that is making her job easy and we would be happy if she could share the secret one day.
Sadly though, quality interviewees is all there is to the show.
Massy has failed to develop herself in the four or so years that she has been running the series insofar as her interviewing technique is concerned. We pardoned her in the early days of the show, hoping she would improve with time. However, she appears to be further going astray.
The youthful presenter is proving to be too young and incapable of bringing out value from the “Living Legends” programme. Clearly, she researches about her subject before the show. However, that is as far as she can go. Each time she gets answers to her premeditated questions, she discernibly struggles to further probe her interviewee(s). She shows signs of a person lacking in-depth knowledge on issues at hand. Probably that explains why she unnecessarily giggles, even when solemn matters are being discussed. For instance, when the late Dr Tuku was explaining the agony caused by piracy to fellow artistes, Massy still found it necessary to chortle in-between, forcing the late superstar to indignantly respond by saying, “hazvisekesi mwanangu”.
Often she has left a lot of important issues that viewers or fans alike need explained or clarified from the horse’s mouth hanging.
Those who watched Enock Chihombori’s interview last week can easily relate to what we are referring to. Massy literally interrupted Chihombori as he was about to review how he managed to get his “Gringo” series breakthrough on ZTV after several failed attempts by asking a trivial question not related to the matter. It would not do her any harm if she is to at least find a partner to complement her, especially on topics she has no proper understanding.
She has instances that she does well, like when she interviews modern-day legends.
