Melusi Khumalo disappointed but soldiering on
By Silence Charumbira
There is something uniquely disturbing that is happening to the Zimbabwean music market; authentic sound is fast disappearing from the shelves, radio and the live performance stage.
So painful is this development that even producers of such music have to find an alternative market for their content.
That is the same situation that crooner Melusi Khumalo finds himself in with his exquisite form of jazz that most local radio stations have in their wisdom; or lack of it-ignored.
The jazz artiste who is definitely in a class of his own in terms of production value and many other facets of music, has been taking his music to Malawi and Zambia where apparently it has been received with overwhelming responses from the audiences.
Khumalo told Showbiz, he was tired with some stations that have literally blacked his music out despite conceding that it is good.
“I have gone to many stations and they have told me they like the music but they still do not play it. I have tried even engaging management at some stations but nothing changes so I will not bother giving those stations my music anymore,” he said.
“The few that are playing however have been so supportive although the market has really shrunk. The jazz audience is starved of this music but they don’t know where to get it.”
He said it was discouraging that even after consulting to check where he is going wrong there was no positive response and the stations preferred playing foreign artistes.
“Some of them play Ringo and I have told them there is no other country that plays Ringo better than they do. South Africans will never play my music the way they play Ringo’s music here,” he lamented.
He said the challenge had discouraged him so much that if he was not of a strong faith he would be questioning whether he had heard God clearly.
He however he said he was getting encouraging support from some friends and family.
New single Mina that will be part of the next album with the same name due February.
The track is an exceptional work of art with unmatchable production value.
It exudes his uncelebrated prowess on the acoustic guitar while at the same time perpetuating his artistry in terms of the arrangement and extraordinary artistry on the compositions.
“Mina speaks about me and hence that name. It’s been a long winding journey of disappointments and not short of encouragement from true friends and the promise that “I will never leave you nor forsake you” coming really clear in this journey. God has truly proved that He loves me despite all these setbacks I have faced in my life,” he said.
But true to his assertion that Malawian and Zambian radio stations were yearning for his music.
Asked how well the music has been received in Zambia, Copperbelt based radio presenter Nicholas Sibanda said: “Overwhelming and I intend to inform him about the feedback from my audience. It’s authentic African music which is infectious and people are getting to love it.”
The album Mina will carry five tracks all of which are almost done save for Khumalo’s perfectionist tendencies that saw him discard the same album a few months earlier after it failed to satisfy him.
If his music is to get the necessary support; which one hopes to be soon, then Zimbabwe is on the verge of unearthing a gem in the caliber of the Salif Keitas of this world.
