By Desire Tshuma
Borrowdale-based young artist Willard Munemo and his band the Vakiridzo Express have released their first Sungura album with singles expected to bed released in August.
Vakiridzo Express was formed in the year 2020 in Harare and comprises eight members. The founder of the band’s stage name is”Willo ” who has been in the music industry since a tender age. Before forming his band, he was working with Mark Ngwazi.
”I started music when I was doing my secondary education at Gandami secondary school in Chivhu. I got inspiration from Nicholas ‘Madzibaba’ Zacharia who is also my music mentor,” said Willo.
The five-track album titled Chikumbiro was released on 22 February 2021 and was recorded by Truetone Studio in Harare. The album is pregnant with a very educative message about life teachings. The album has songs like Chikumbiro which is the title track, Chikuru Rudo, Chimwe Nechimwe, Kugarisana and Ndezvemeso.
Willo Munemo highlighted the challenges that he is facing as an upcoming artist.
”I am struggling to sustain my band. I’m using very few resources that I get from my family and friends. I am appealing for support from well-wishers who can provide financial support so that I buy instruments and pay transport, studio, and for recordings,” said Willo.
The vibrant artist also told this publication that in August he is releasing the singles and a video for the ‘Chikumbiro ‘ song.
He also spoke heavily criticized piracy and asked the government to intervene so that these pirates are eliminated. He said the long arm of the law should deal with them and stiffer penalties should be given to those caught promoting the vice.
Willard is a Christian and a family man. Those who want to have copies of his music should contact him directly as he is doing self-marketing.
A lot of artists have been heavily affected by the COVID 19 lockdowns as they could not do live shows after the government restricted gatherings as a measure to fight the spread of the pandemic that has ravaged the globe. Another South Africa-based artist, Blessing Muroti Gomo, who is also a businessman and owns Bigtime Investments spoke to this publication and said artists should diversify so as to counter the poverty that has been perpetrated by Covid 19.
”I urge artists to engage in different businesses so that they won’t starve during and after the Covid lockdowns. Open even a tuckshop as no one knows when this pandemic will end,” said Gomo. Blessing Muroti Gomo made a record-breaking feat in December 2020 when he launched three-album at once in Harare.