| ‘Zimbabweans Should Appreciate their Artists’- Xtra Large |
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| Music & Dance - Urban Beat |
| Thursday, 25 June 2009 11:51 |
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Members of the group Xtra Large, responding to comments that Urban Groovers are copy cats and an article which suggested that their genre was dying have said that there is a lack of appreciation of talent and that Zimbabweans should learn to support their artists.
^ Xtra Large is Jim Mangezi (aka Snaggah Jim) and Norman Manwere (aka Likkle N).
“Kusafarira haisi mhosva asi regerai kuvenga... The only people who can give us support are Zimbabweans since they are the ones who can understand the language we're singing in and relate to the situations we're singing about. It’s so sad we're busy trying to support music from abroad whilst our very own artists might even be better. “In Jamaica, Reggae music is the biggest Foreign Currency earner. We need your support Zimbabwe, we can’t make it anywhere if we don't make it at home...” In an email to The Zimbo Jam, one of the members of the duo, Jim Mangezi, acknowledged the need for financial support for Urban Grooves and put forward their thoughts about other aspects of the genre. “We need people to buy the music,” he said and went on to add that it was also important to get sponsorship from companies. “When I say financial support I mean like what companies are doing for our Cricket Team. Ok, one example, we need to get our music out there internationally, it can be easy for us if there are Cultural Exchange programs like how HIFA does it. Our marketing companies should also make our music available and affordable.” Commenting on the school of thought that Urban Groovers were simply copy cats he said this was not the case at all. “The copy cat issue is just a lame excuse from people who do not appreciate talent. If I may say so, no disrespect, Sungura itself did not originate from Zimbabwe, I’m sure we all know that even the name Sungura is not Shona nor Ndebele- it is not Zimbabwean. In Senegal there is Reggae, I’m sure you know Baaba Maal, a well known Reggae artist. Can you say he is a copy cat? We also have Akon, can anyone say he is a copy cat? He's not an American. Zimbabweans should just start appreciating their local Artists, simple.” Xtra Large was one of the first Urban Grooves acts in Zimbabwe. Formed in 1996, they went on to became household names when the genre took off in the early part of the decade that followed. The two members Jim Mangezi (aka Snaggah Jim) and Norman Manwere (aka Likkle N) grew up together in Highfield, Harare. They also attended the same primary and high schools. Both of them quit their jobs to pursue music on a full time basis. They say it was a shock to their parents that they were pursuing zvema gitare one hundred percent. One of the early challenges they had was criticism of their brand of lyrics which talk frankly about goings on in the city. “We comment on social matters, things that people can relate to, serious life matters that people can’t really look at and would like to discuss at times, then we put humour into it and it becomes funny and easy to talk about, like Roja richiseka naLandlord, that’s the kinda life we need isn’t it?” asks Jim. And to the young musicians looking up at the murky surface of the music industry with trepidation? “Upcoming artist should not let anyone pull them down. Kuimba kunoda Chipo kwete Chido. When you look at it, it seems there is a lot of us in the Urban Grooves circuit but we're only a handful, we need more artists so all upcoming Urban Grooves Artists who can’t afford Studio time, bring your demos and we will gladly assist you, if you've got talent that is… With passion like this, perhaps there is hope for Urban Grooves after all… - Styles Kadzere Share this bit of jam with your friends:           |
From the Picture Archives
Not Looking so Blue. Kizito Mawoko, known as Dread Welly in Studio 263 pictured here outside the set of the popular soap opera. Studio 263 has stopped production of new episodes "for the time being". |
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