VIOLENCE WASN’T PART OF OUR SHOWS, SAYS MASKIRI. . . Rapper takes a dig at violence at shows featuring some emerging artists

Zimpapers Entertainment Hub

VETERAN rapper Maskiri says the younger crop of emerging music stars should borrow a leaf from his generation and ensure that their shows are not always plagued by violence.

Maskiri is spearheading the Urban Grooves revival, which he says was long overdue, with fans warmly embracing artists from the genre’s golden era. There have been ugly scenes of violent disturbances at a number of musical shows, featuring the new generation of emerging artists, across the country.

Maskiri, whose generation made waves following the introduction of Zimbabwe’s 75 percent local content policy on radio stations in 2001, said they made a name for themselves at a time when the music industry was far more challenging than it is today.

“Unlike the new crop of youngsters, who are sometimes associated with violence during live shows, our shows are peaceful and beer sales are high,” said the rapper.

“Fans from our generation have always been known to be peace-loving people, and that alone has made our return remarkable.

“I will always cherish our loyal fans who have been calling for our return, and we have simply heeded the call.” Maskiri likened artists from his generation to elders who pioneered urban contemporary music, which later gave birth to genres such as Zimdancehall, Zim Hip Hop and Afro-fusion.

“One thing people should take note of is that we were never shy to experiment with new genres, which were later developed by the current generation.

“As far as technology is concerned, I wouldn’t want to complain a lot because, during our time, I was mainly catalogue-driven, and in life, technology keeps changing.”

The rapper, who has been touring various parts of Zimbabwe alongside Pauline Gundidza, Dino Mudondo, Tererai Mugwadi, Extra Large and Rockford “Roki” Josphat, said nostalgia played a major role in their return.

“To date, we have held eight shows as a clique and the feedback we get wherever we perform is pleasing.

Now that they have been embraced by many, Maskiri believes consistency will take them places.

“We laid the foundation long back, and we have nothing to prove, but we need to continue writing new songs for relevance’s sake.

“In my case, I have been constantly recording new songs, and two of my latest singles – ‘Kahulengend’ and ‘VaWinky D’ – have been embraced by many.”

He said promoters were partly to blame for failing to embrace them when they were at their lowest point. “At one point, promoters completely shut the door on us as they preferred the new crop of artists, some of whom did not value their professions.

“Imagine there was a time when more than 40 acts would be tussling to perform on one stage.

“It is clear that they were getting peanuts, although a few managed to establish themselves as household names.

“Another factor that we have accepted is that times change, as do tastes.

“However, good music will always stand the test of time, and Urban Grooves has simply shown us that. We are proud to have come from that special generation.” He added:

“I am confident that we are simply doing our best to forge our way back.

“I am glad to be part of the generation that made waves at a time when it was not easy for most of us, compared to now, when marketing has been made easier.

“Of course, we made our breakthrough, but we should take note of the fact that life was never easy.

“This saw some artists leaving music and relocating to the diaspora in search of other sources of income.

“It was not by choice that we found ourselves stuck, but it was a matter of survival.

“I am glad that many club owners are now embracing us because we have our own generation that used to follow us.”