TellZim Reporter
Budding music artists from Masvingo urban who got recording contracts from a programme initiated by Masvingo Root of Development (MARODO) last weekend (April 22) have expressed gratitude to the organization as they say the initiative will help develop their careers.
Some of the artists from the total 17 who made it to the contract awards after the screening process said the programme would help uplift their careers through being able to record their songs which could not have been possible due to the harsh economic conditions in the country.
Kennedy Ganda whose stage name is ‘KennyGizzy 99’ an Afropop and jazz genre artist expressed happiness after making it into the basket.
“I am very happy for getting the opportunity to showcase my talent like I did today. I am hopeful the contract will help afford me a chance to interact with experts in the music industry while at the same time recording my work.
“This is the kind of help I was looking for considering that I am a young artist who still has a lot more to learn as I grow my musical career. Right now I have a strong belief that this chance may unlock more opportunities and can use it as a launch pad for my musical journey going forward,” said Ganda.
Another female artist, 24 year-old Ashleigh Zingoni (Afro pop) said she will now be able to record her musical works courtesy of MARODO recording contract.
“I am delighted upon being chosen among the final 16 and will be able to record my work from the contract we are given by MARODO. Recording has always been expensive for us as artists and we could not be able to visit studios with our works.
“I hope to live up to the billing in terms of the challenge that lies ahead as we work and that is when it comes to activism through music. On behalf of all young people who thronged Mucheke hall today, I would like to thank the organization for affording us the opportunity we have for so long been waiting for,” said Zingoni.
Emmanuel Mangwarira whose stage name is Luvante (dancehall) said now that artists have been given recording contracts, they were going to come up with finer pieces of work unlike in the past.
“I am very grateful to the recording contract. There is a lot of talent in us as young people but we always face challenges when it comes to recording expenses and MARODO has come to our rescue.
“We are going to ensure that we put an extra effort and hard work to justify why we got selected into the final 16. I can promise that since we are going to be aided in our recording, we will come up with improved quality music,” Mangwarira said.
MARODO founder Acknowledge Mawere expressed happiness over the turn out and how the youthful artists exhibited their talent and the message they packaged.
“We were super impressed by the turn-out both from the audience and artists. We had over 55 artists and what was interesting was the smart/clean lyrical content they delivered to the audience. “The various songs composed were in support of our theme ‘NoToGBV’ as well as shunning drug and substance abuse.
“The short listed candidates would get training in music advocacy covering topics like music writing, entertainment law, advocacy, gender, marketing and content monetization from trainers with vast knowledge about the industry probably starting from next week,” said Mawere.
