Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze-Entertainment Reporter
SINCE the start of the festive season, most people have taken time to rest and bond with their families as they seek to reboot for the coming year. However, this is also a time when artistes are very busy with tight schedules that leave them with barely any time to be at home with their families.
The Sunday Mail Entertainment spoke with artistes, reflecting on 2024 and sharing their plans for the new year.
The year 2024 was undoubtedly marked by a remarkable display of creativity. It featured a wide array of music festivals and traditional events that highlighted the nation’s rich cultural heritage and diverse cultural landscape.
Some artistes garnered attention for their grand projects and performances, while others attracted the spotlight for less favourable reasons.
Musician Takura Shonai stood out as a courageous figure in the fight against drug addiction, openly sharing his personal struggles amidst the broader national crisis.
Affectionately known as “Takura” on stage, the “Wandachuza” and “Haarore” singer had been away from the music scene for quite some time.
At one stage he even announced that he had abandoned music, although he later retracted that statement.
His revelation that an eight-year struggle with substance abuse hindered his artistic development left many speechless, prompting his decision to seek rehabilitation.
Venting on an online podcast, he said pressures in the music industry had led him to take drugs and illegal substances.
“I would neglect my work and personal relationships because I was obsessed with making it,” he said.
“At that point, I did not see it until I was into drugs.
“When I became an artiste, it became normal because most artistes are into it, but I cannot say I was influenced, but I just did it because I thought it was normal.”
Takura experienced a pivotal moment in his life after dedicating five weeks to rehabilitation, which ultimately led him to become an advocate of drug and substance abuse awareness.
Versatile musician Diana Samkange has dubbed 2025 the “year of double portions in my spiritual life”.
Although she opens her year on a low note, where she will be at home with her family, the jazz artiste has prepared for a busy year.
Her major focus is on releasing more music and creating videos for some of her previous projects.
“For me, it is a year for music creation, video production for most of my songs which do not have videos,” she said.
“I will also focus more on aligning the brand with the corporate world, which is why I have named it ‘the year of double portions in my spiritual life’.”
For hip-hop musician Saintfloew, born Spice Tawanda Junior Mambo, the dark world of drugs had taken him into the darkest corners of life.
Saintfloew took all sorts of drugs.
However, he was bold enough to take a giant step — checking into a rehabilitation centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, to mend his ways.
While these are some of the success stories, there are artistes who are still living on the dangerous side.
Hip-hop sensation Holy Ten, born Mukudzei Chitsama, made headlines for using controversy to “fuel” his career.
While undoubtedly talented, his penchant for gaining attention by dissing fellow musicians made him lose followers.
The “Banga” singer targeted many artistes, igniting arguments and controversy.
Others retaliated but some chose to ignore his provocations.
On several occasions, he fired missiles at Jah Prayzah, Winky D, Saintfloew, Takura and Voltz JT, among others, leading many to suggest that he (Holy Ten) needs counselling.
However, amid all the controversy, some promoters still want to work with the “Ucharamba Uchipisa” hitmaker.
He was among the most active artistes during the festivities, performing at various locations, including the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex, Gweru, Chipinge and Kariba.
On New Year’s Eve, he will be back in Chitungwiza, giving his fans a special treat.
For Dendera crooner Sulumani Chimbetu, this has been a busy festive season.
Despite being awfully quiet throughout the year, since December 20, he only rested for two days (December 27 and 28), as he held shows across the country.
Chimbetu wraps up his busy holiday schedule with a show in Chivhu on New Year’s Eve.
Budding artiste Sunfree Vunganai, who is well-known as “Niceboi”, feels 2025 will be his breakthrough year.
Niceboi made a powerful introduction to the music scene in 2018 with his project “Zviroto” before disappearing from the radar.
After winning fans through the song, he quickly disappeared from the scene, prompting his followers to conclude that his delayed rise was self-inflicted.
To cover for lost time, he is set to release several singles in the first week of January.
“The first single comes on January 4, 2025, which is my birthday . . . it is a prayer titled ‘Gore Rangu’, translating to ‘My Year’ in English.”
He also expects to open a studio named “Ngoma-round”.
“I am also focusing on making videos for my previous projects. I also have a number of local and international collaborations lined up,” he added.
Vee Mhofu, born Virimai Nhedega, and his Dziva Rembira band are eyeing the international market in the coming year.
Although they will release their fourth album in the year, their sights are set on a bigger picture.
“It took us until the end of 2024 to fully recover from Covid-19; our shows were finally oversubscribed for the first time since the global pandemic,” said Vee Mhofu.
“Our fans came in numbers, and we are grateful for their support. In the new year, we are also going to have more collaborations with local artistes just to give them (fans) something to smile about.
“We are also expecting to finally break onto the international scene with a number of shows.”
Meanwhile, the sought-after artiste Master H will start the year with a busy schedule.
Born Hillary Marufu, the musician and his Bottom Camp band are set to perform at the Kadoma shutdown show.
He will perform alongside Killer T, Tocky Vibes, Bling for Madedido and Enzo Ishall, among others. That same night, he will proceed to Gweru for another act where he joins Seh Calaz, Silent Killer and Bling 4.
Chief Hwenje, born Admire Sibanda, who is gradually recovering from a major surgery in India, will be back in the studio to finalise his album.
The 37-year-old Hwenje was in 2024 diagnosed with lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system and immune system.
It occurs when lymphocytes, a type of white blood cells, develop abnormally and multiply out of control.
To salvage the situation, he went under the knife in India.
As a result of his poor health, he had to postpone the release of his new album titled “Chiedza chaSamere”.
Initially scheduled to be released in December, the eight-track album will be out early in 2025.
The “Mai Welly” singer sampled some of his songs for The Sunday Mail Entertainment, explaining the inspiration behind the deep lyrics.
In his Afro-traditional songs, he pours out his heart, expressing the challenges he has faced in his career and life.
“I come from a rough background, losing my parents at a young age. I had to see myself through school,” he said.
“I learnt how to entertain the public through music at a young age so that I could raise school fees, and my story has been my major driving force.
“On the title track ‘Chiedza chaSamere’, I share with the world my experiences during my visit to Nehemiah Mutendi’s Defe shrine in 2024.
“I feel that the visit gave me some form of hope that I needed in my life. When I came back from there, I felt a new energy, although I was yet to get proper medical help for my situation.”
Zimbabwe Original Rhythms of Africa (Zora) musician Leonard “Karikoga” Zhakata recently launched his album titled “Jinda Rasvika”.
Despite it being a 10-track album, he only launched five tracks off the project.
The other five are scheduled for release in January, 2025.
The album has songs that include “Tanyaradzwa”, “Chisungo” and “Mambo Ndidaireiwo”, with the singer returning to his traditional Zora beat.
