Leonard Zhakata

At 26, Zhakata sold over 120,000 copies for his 'Maruva Enyika' album in 1994.

Background

Leonard Zhakata was born on 25 June 1968. He is the only boy in a family of seven children.^[1]

He grew up in Rusape where as a child he was exposed to the liberation war against the Ian Smith regime. He then became one of the youngest war collaborators at a very young age.^[2]

Zhakata is married to Ruth and the couple has four children - Chamu Lionel, Angela Leossa, Petula Pepukai and Kanotonga Lennon.^[3] This is what Zhakata said about his family:

So many years in marriage, we have four children — Chamu Lionel, Angela Leossa, Petula Pepukai and Kanotonga Lennon. Chamu did his 1st degree at Africa University, Angela did her accounting degree in China, Petula is doing law in SA and Lennon is doing Lower 6.

Music career

Zhakata grew up with a passion for music that can be stretched as far as his primary school days at Shiri Yedenga School in Harare's Glen Norah suburb.

He said he used to sneak from home and play music with his primary schoolmates.

At the tender age of thirteen, he defied the odds by composing his first-ever song "Baba Samson". Professionally, he started singing with the Maungwe Brothers, comprising of him and his cousin, Thomas Makion.

The duo went on to release two albums in the late 1980s before splitting to pursue solo careers.^[4] That is when Zhakata rose to prominence with his 1994 solo album “Maruva Enyika”, which spawned the huge hit “Mugove” and sold more than 120 000 copies.

Later he named his music “ZORA” (“Zhakata Original Rhythms of Africa”) which is his trademark. in 2009, together with Virginia Mukwesha launched what they called Zombi. This simply means “Zora Meets Mbira”. The two then went on to release a ten-track album which is a real fusion of the two beats of mbira and sungura.^[5]

After a waning career, the talented musician came back in 2013 with his album "Zvangu Zvaita". One of the songs on the album made it to National FM's top 40.^[6]

In 2014, his song Dhonza Makomborero won song of the year at the Zimas and scooped the top position Coca-Cola Radio Zimbabwe Top 50.^[7]

In 2017 he walked away with $2 500 for claiming the top position on Radio Zimbabwe's Coca-Cola Top 50 music chart, $2 000 for earning the second position, and $1 500 for also getting position number three. Zhakata had the top 3 songs on the chart.

Banning of his Music

It was in 2003 when he realised that his music had been banned on all Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) channels.

Since ZBC was the sole broadcaster then, he has to take action to find out why his music was banned. He then approached the then ZBC Chief Executive Officer, Munyaradzi Hwengwere who professed ignorance at the ban.

From there on he was constantly attacked by the state media which portrayed him as a spent force.

In his own words, That time was the 'worst as far as his music carer is concerned. The reason for the banning of his songs was that they were politically incorrect as they were linked to the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Message

The talented artist grew up in a poor family and he reflects this in his music. He is probably the greatest wordsmith in local music and his songs are saturated with lyrical depth.

Although his music addresses social issues affecting the common people, others view the singer as part of the opposition, using his music to attack the government.

In 2003, he released his album 'Hodho' which did not receive any airplay because it was banned. The album carried songs like One of the singles on the album was 'Mirira nguva' (Wait for your time).

The track that deals with the situation of the underprivileged in Zimbabwean society was never perceived as such. By telling them that "their time will come", Zhakata says he meant to encourage the poor.^[8]

Zhakata says he is only an artist and not a politician but people always have different interpretations of what he intends to say in his songs.

He, however, said he does not harbour any hard feelings about the censorship of his songs during the Robert Mugabe era.

Zhakata said the persecution made him fearless but he now exercises self-censorship in some of his songs.

Ambassodorial Role

In 2012, the ZORA king was appointed the Zimbabwe Rural Schools Library Trust’s Goodwill Ambassador Leonard Karikoga. He is expected to work with other artists to produce an album that promotes the development of school libraries in Zimbabwe.^[9]

The Call

In 2012, prominet prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa prophesised that, Zhakata will become a pastor. Zhakata, who is a regular at Makandiwa's United Families International Church (UFIc) accepted the prophesy amid wide ululations from the congregation.^[10] This has led at least five of his band members to desert him as he constantly cancels shows to concentrate on God's work.

Zhakata's Attempt at Gospel Music

Zhakata made the pronouncement that he would abandon secualar music and focus on gospel music following the prophecy which had been issued by Emmanuel Makandiwa saying that Zhakata would become a pastor in Makandiwa's church. When he announced his impending departure from secular music, some of his band members left him and went on to form another group.^[11] The musician went on to release an album but the album only had three songs which were gospel with the other songs maintaining a social commentary tone, consistent with the musician traditional message. It was reported that there were mixed feelings over Zhakata's album with some not seeing anything wrong with the musician making an attempt at gospel music while others were convinced that the musician had lost it.^[12] Zhakata commenting on the album noted that

I have always been a religious person and I had always been singing gospel music although most people thought it was just social commentary. The type of music that I have been singing in the past always had a gospel connotation to it and it seems some may not have realised. Nothing has changed really.^[12]

The Mugove hitmaker was also incorporated by a gospel artiste by the name Tauya Murisa, this was the first time that the musician was involved in gospel circles prior to the release of his "gospel" album titled "Zvangu Zvaita".

Discography

• Yarira Mhere, 1990
• Maruva Enyika, 1994
• Nhamo Dzenyika, 1995
• Mandishorei, 1995
• Nzombe Huru, 1996
• NN 1995 KLZ5, 1996
• Greatest Hits, 1996 (compilation)
• Vagoni Vebasa, 1997
• Ndingaite Sei?, 1998
• Pakuyambuka, 1999
• Kumera Kwezora, 2000
• Original Rhythms Of Africa, 2000
• Mubikira, 2001
• Hodho, 2003 (banned in Zimbabwe)
• Udza Vamwe, 2004
• Tine Vimbo, 2006
• Zombi,2009 ^[13]
• Gotwe, 2011
• Ndiriwenyu(bhora rembabvu & Tarisiro among other songs) Year unknown
• Zvangu zvaita, 21 December 2013
• Segwayana, 2017
• Mutunga Dzose, 2019
• Mupendero Wenguva, 2022

Videos

Trivia

• Leonard Zhakata is a qualified fitter and turner

References