Alick Macheso, the undisputed king of sungura, is facing a storm of controversy surrounding his latest album, “Kupa Kuturika,” released on August 2nd.
The album, his 13th studio effort, has sparked debate and criticism, with some dismissing it as “boring” and others accusing Macheso of being irrelevant. The musician himself has hit back at his critics, accusing them of leaking his songs and circulating them on social media to sabotage his album launch.
Since the album’s unveiling, Baba Sharo, as Macheso is affectionately known, has been juggling the demands of corporate sponsors, a hungry media, and his adoring fans. He recently commissioned a solar-powered borehole in Dzivaresekwa Extension, a collaborative effort involving Pacific Cigarette Company, SJive Zimbabwe, and the musician himself. The project, inspired by Macheso’s own roots in Dzivaresekwa, aims to address the community’s water needs.
Amidst these engagements, one thing is clear: Macheso is thrilled with his new album, but also expresses dissatisfaction with some recent developments. He is particularly unimpressed by the criticism that has come his way, especially premature appraisals of the album.
“It is astonishing how an entire six-track album can be dismissed after just one song is released. In fact, I was labelled irrelevant before the song was even on the market for two days. I think this is a record on its own. In my several years as a musician, I have never seen a full album that is reviewed on the same day it is released; perhaps this is a sign of changing times,” Baba Sharo told The Sunday Mail Entertainment.
The musician hinted that there seemed to be people who were doing everything in their power to discredit his work.
“A few days before our album launch, some songs allegedly leaked from our album were circulated on social media to create confusion among our fans. Some of our followers still believe those songs are part of the new album because of being misled. The music that was said to be mine had six tracks, yet we have only officially released four songs thus far. I have no control over such shenanigans and the culprits probably know better why they did so.”
Despite these challenges, Macheso remains confident in his music and his legacy.
“I did not wake up as the Macheso I am today. I achieved what I have through sheer hard work, resilience and, above all, support from Orchestra Mberikwazvo fans. More than 20 years ago, I introduced some music to the world and by God’s grace, some fell in love with it. Since then, I have not stopped composing. As a musician, I constantly release new music,” he said.
He compared his group to a football team that adapts its formations to meet evolving trends.
“Our latest offering is representing a positive change and we will not stop there. The fact that we have evolved from our ‘Shedia’ or ‘Charakupa’ days fills me with pride. It shows our growth as a group. We have been receiving feedback on the songs we have released so far and that guides our direction. I create music for the people and I do not need to pay anyone for protection of my released work or to get support. Our music markets itself!”
Macheso also addressed changes in his music, particularly his vocal style.
“I have come a long way in the music industry and continue to evolve. I cannot remain stuck in a style I introduced decades ago. If other artistes want to replicate my old style, that is their choice and fans will ultimately decide what they prefer. Veterans like the late Dr Oliver Mtukudzi and Dr Thomas Mapfumo went through a lot of transitions in their music careers. If they had maintained a single style, they would not have lasted the distance,” argued Macheso.
Damaging rumours have circulated that Macheso had to re-record some songs due to negative feedback following the initial release. However, he vehemently denied these claims, indicating that the staggered release of the album was meant to combat piracy.
“The recording process was completed long ago. We are already working on new projects. Chaibva chaora! To combat piracy, we decided to release our music gradually to generate income through online platforms,” Macheso explained.
The 32-member Orchestra Mberikwazvo suspended live performances for about a month before the launch of the latest album. They are scheduled to resume shows this weekend, with one scheduled at the Steak House in Harare today.
The gig will serve as both an album launch celebration and a farewell event before Orchestra Mberikwazvo’s performance at the Africa Music Festival in the United Kingdom on August 24 and 25.
“We outsmarted the pirates. That is why some of them are so upset. I believe we made the right decision. They could not create pirated copies with just a single or two songs. The tracks will be released one by one until the full album is out,” he said with a grin filling his face.
