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Melissa Mpofu Showbiz Editor
Multi-award winning dancehall musician, Buffalo Souljah, who publicly announced his retirement in the music game last year, seems to be having difficulties letting go of that industry.

The artiste based in South Africa, in November last year declared that he had decided to call it quits for fear of engaging in illicit activities to remain relevant.

“I’ve reached the end of my music quest. This is something I feel I need to do because as artistes, we tend to suffer from depression while trying so hard to stay relevant. In the end, we resort to drug use and even suicide,” Buffalo was quoted saying when he retired.

The news was not taken well by many who sympathised with him as they felt he had a great future in the music industry, considering that he had won a couple of music awards and had constantly put Zimbabwe on the map.

But, those in the showbiz industry and music critics hinted Buffalo’s announcement was just but a marketing gimmick used by the artiste to get more gigs and expand his fan base. The critics have been vindicated because two months after his announcement, the artiste is still holding on, behaving like he never retired.

Instead of venturing into farming which he had hinted as his alternative plan, Buffalo has been busy producing videos and lining up series of gigs. Through Oskido, Buffalo, who usually performs for small crowds at clubs in South Africa, was given an opportunity to perform for thousands and shared the stage with Kalawa Jazzmee greats at their Homecoming gig held in Bulawayo.

Besides lining up gigs, he has been vigorously pushing one of his artistes, Vanessa “Queen Vee” Sibanda whose third music video Agenda will be released next week.

But Buffalo, popularly known as Big Buffs, insists he genuinely quit the music industry and is only focusing on completing work which he had started.

He agreed that announcing his retirement had opened more avenues for his career.

The artiste who is also the owner of United Nations of Africa (U.N.A) record label said the need to assist his artistes was also holding him back.

“I’ve collaborated with Zimdancehall artistes such as Shinsoman, Freeman, Guspy Warrior, Lady Squanda and Seh Calaz on a single as I want to put Zim artistes on the map. I want them to also experience the whole Channel O thing and feel how it’s like being nominated for international awards.”

Buffalo, a son to the late great Zimbabwean saxophonist Unity Ndlovu (who played alongside Thomas Mapfumo in the 70s and early 80s), drew a lot of inspiration from his father, and began concentrating on his music after his father’s death in 1992.

He follows in the footsteps of a number of international artistes who are on record for quitting music and bouncing back. Just like him, American rapper T.I in 2012 revealed that he did not want to be in the music industry anymore but was only continuing because of signed contracts and his love for the actual music, and not the industry.

“I want out, man. What the game is going to and what has evolved . . . it goes against what I represent,” T.I was quoted saying.

In 2003, Jay Z quit music citing that he was devoting his time to his daughter only to return.