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Alick Macheso

Bongani Ndlovu Entertainment Correspondent
ALICK “Baba Sharo” Macheso has promised a riveting show tonight at the Amphitheatre as he brings Orchestra Mberikwazvo to Bulawayo for the first time this year.
Buoyed by his daughter’s marriage recently, the Zora butter, Razor wire and Borrowdale dance inventor is expected to dazzle fans and silence critics who have said he is a spent force.

In an interview yesterday, Macheso’s manager William Tsandukwa said they would arrive in the City of Kings today at 5PM.
“We are coming to Bulawayo to thrill fans. They should expect only the best from Macheso as he is rejuvenated and raring to go,” he said.

Tsakundwa said Baba Sharo as Macheso is now called would play tracks from his new album, Kwatakabva Mitunhu (Kure Kwekure).
“Last time when we played tracks from the new album we played only four songs. This time we shall play more songs from the album and other fan favourites,” he said.
When quizzed if Macheso has a new dance, Tsakundwa said the sungura maestro was still drawing inspiration from fans.

“The fans are the ones who inspire all our  dances.  For example the Zora butter was inspired by the fans. So if fans have dances that they want us to incorporate they are free to show us,” he said.

Macheso, now a father-in-law is expected to be dressed in a suit and tie, throwing away the jeans and T-shirt look. Macheso’s daughter, Sharon was customarily married to Kudakwashe Munetsi earlier this month.

Macheso demanded $12,000 as lobola from Munetsi who is based in South Africa. On the posters advertising the gig, Macheso is seen in a jacket  and tie and a number of fans are curious to know whether the sungura maestro is coming up with a new style.

Macheso has been called a spent force in the music industry. Even fans have instructed him to go back to the studio and re-do an album he released last year.
The collapse of Last Power Studios, co-owned by Macheso and Laston Murehwa, has been attributed to the rescheduling of the recording of Macheso’s latest project to a later date.

The fallout between the two also meant that Macheso had to find a new studio to record his album. This prompted him to set up his own studio, Zorai Butter Studios.
The studio is expected to start operating in April.

Macheso is the architect of successful dances that include the famous Zora Butter, Borrowdale, Razor Wire, Slow Motion, Tora Bute, Yambongo and Kochekera.