Mono's hero line up of music industry mentors

From left: Isaac Chirwa, Cont Mhlanga and Shepherd Chinyani

Mono Mukundu

In Zimbabwe we have had individuals and institutions who worked selflessly behind the scenes as mentors. Some of them, like Isaac Chirwa were lucky to have mentees who acknowledged them every now and then, but some were not so lucky, so they are known by very few people.

A mentor is someone who teaches, guides, or gives information about a certain career path, as well as provide motivation, emotional support, and role modelling. You can mentor someone unknowingly too. But on this list I'm mentioning those that deliberately chose to.

My list is not exhaustive. Since these people work behind the scenes obviously there are some that I do not know. So please feel free to add more names.

But here goes:

SHEPHERD CHINYANI:

He is a Sungura musician based in Dzivarasekwa. He fronts a band called Vhuka Boys. He is well known as a selfless man who has helped a long list of musicians. A good number of top artists passed through this man's hands, the likes of Alick Macheso, John Chibadura, Ngwenya Brothers, Somandla Ndebele, etc.

At times he would coach artists, and play for them at the studio too. He was also known to be very punctual during those studio sessions; many times he would be the first to arrive before the project owner. During my early days in the industry, I also did a number of rehearsals with my band at his house in DZ.

THE BOOK CAFE:

This was one of the most effective music mentorship and artistic development centres ever to come out of Zimbabwe. I believe it's model needs to be replicated and centres should be built along it's model.

The book Cafe was founded 1993 by Paul Brickhill. It worked in conjunction with Pamberi Trust, another dedicated arts organization. The Book Cafe worked as an entertainment venue, as well as an arts development centre. Many Zimbabwean artists had their first experience on stage at this place. The Book Cafe also ran a number of workshops & competitions to teach & motivate new musicians.

The organization had a number of in-house mentors who were very dedicated to the arts industry that include Penny Yon - At Your Service, Hector Mugani and many more. Sadly, with the passing on of the founder (Brickhill) in 2014 probably coupled with other factors that I may not be aware of, the organization failed to carry on. It was closed in 2015.

ISAAC CHIRWA:

Another person who mentored many artists including me, Minister Mahendere and many others who openly acknowledge his role.

During his days as a music producer at Shed Studios, as well as during his days as a Gospel music session musician mid-'90s, he would take his time to lecture young musicians on professionalism and the arts industry.

AMAKHOSI THEATRE:

Established 1981 by Playwright Cont Mhlanga, this is the most popular arts centre in Bulawayo.

As someone who occasionally works as a talent show judge on many national competitions, when it comes to stage work and stage presence, I always look forward to watching Bulawayo artists. The majority of them would have passed through Amakhosi Theatre.

Amakhosi is more known for theatre, but theatre also involves music and dance. As a result, a lot of musicians benefited from its mentorship program. Artists such as Edith Weutonga and many others. Sadly, Mhlanga passed away on the 1st of August this year.

SERESTINO:

He started off as Rhythm guitarist for the Seaside Band, and then bought live band equipment that he used to hire out as rehearsal equipment. So a lot of musicians would travel to DZ to do rehearsals at his house. Mufakose-based band, The Sarungano Chanters and I had our first rehearsals on electric instruments at this man's house. He would also take time to lecture musicians concerning the music industry. As a result, he mentored a lot of artists.

AMBUJI:

He is a bass player from Mufakose whos is well versed in music theory. He mentored a number of musicians in Mufakose. He was my first music theory teacher in 1989.

JOMO:

Jomo is one man known for mentoring quite a number of the current top sound engineers in Zimbabwe. One of his products is Vusa Moyo, who was Oliver Mtukudzi's personal sound engineer for some time. Even artists like Hugh Masekela used to hire Vusa to do sound for them.

IYASA:

This is another Bulawayo institution that gave Zimbabwe a lot of art. The Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts was established in 2001 by Nkululeko Innocent Dube. A good number of influential artists passed through its hands, most notably Sandra Ndebele and the group simply known as Iyasa

JACKSON PHIRI:

In the small town of Norton lives a man who was once a big name to reckon with as a renowned Soul music singer who commanded a huge following. His name is Jackson Phiri of the Limpopo Jazz Band fame. After the demise of his band he mentored quite a number of artists who were based in Norton including the powerful melodic guitarist Leo Musena who once played for Victor Kunonga. I, too, received some mentorship from him when we played in the same band, The Chax Brothers, in 1989.

IMBONGI:

This is an institution founded by Zimbabwe's most popular poet Albert Nyathi. The organization ran a mentorship program that offered music lessons as well as theatre. Some of the products of Imbongi include Balt Mudepu, as well as popular music producer Lazzie T, who learnt keyboards at the institution.

MUSIC CROSSROADS ZIMBABWE:

A very effective mentorship institution in Harare. It is the same institution that gave us names like Mokoomba Band, African Destiny and many others. The institution had a number of mentors that included Lwazi Tshabangu, a Harare based artist who began his career in Bulawayo. He is one skilled mentor and trainer with a great track record. His combination with Isaac Chirwa always produced sterling results.

RECORD LABELS:

Worldwide, record labels are known as music marketers & distributors, but most people don't know that they also mentor artists under their wing. In 2018 I visited Motown Studios Museum in USA and was given an in-depth description of how they operated. They even had a department that taught artists such things as etiquette, how to speak to the press, etc.

Here in Zimbabwe record labels such as Gramma, ZMC, RTP & Metro Studios were known to groom artists, especially on issues such as what quality music is and what sells. With their demise due to piracy, Zimbabwean artists are currently struggling with direction.

Most artists who were produced under record labels are now producing on their own music. It is not a secret that this artistic freedom has led to the failure of the majority of these artists to produce meaningful music, let alone hits. Countries that have thrived in the music industry like Nigeria, S.A, Tanzania and the western world still have major record labels. Social media is not enough.

Of course we do have studios that claim to be record labels here in Zimbabwe, but they are way too far from the correct definition of what a record label is. What they offer is too little to qualify them to be called fully-fledged record labels.

This is Mono, God`s favourite guitarist signing off.