The Sunday News
Joel Tsvakwi, Sunday Life Reporter
IF the English proverb, “waste not, want not” is something to go by, Harare-based human rights lawyer David Hofisi who is fast gaining a reputation in the music circles has not wasted his long-awaited desire of being an artiste.
In non-concrete terms, the proverb simply means if you never waste anything, you will have it when you need it.
The dreadlocked lawyer debunked the long held misnotion that music or the arts in particular are a reserve of the less intelligent by releasing his debut album, Supernova early this year.
For him trading the statutes for strumming the guitar was easy because music was in him.
Hofisi maintained that he always coveted the fruition of his lifetime desire of becoming a musician when eventually in 2008 he finally managed to buy a guitar.
In an interview with Sunday Life from his base in Harare, Hofisi could not hide his triumphant entry into his lifetime burning sensation.
“I ventured into music when I bought my first guitar around 2008. I had always been a big fan of music but was inhibited by costs. Acquiring my acoustic classic was more or less my entry into music. It is truly fulfilling to do both music and human rights as my true passion,” said Hofisi.
Supernova is a seven-track album which was recorded at Monolio Studios and produced by Clive Mono Mukundu. Songs on the album are, Sarawoga, This time it will last, Anotonga, Esmeralda, Rasa Musango, Stop the bullying, and 602 Jive.
Hofisi described his album as all about exploring human struggles and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit.
“A supernova is the dying state of a big star. It is its brightest moment. Similarly, I think our most intense pain is just before the storm subsides. This is why the title track is a melody which reaches a high point to symbolise the eye of the story,” Hofisi said.
He added that Sarawoga symbolises this ‘‘eye of the storm.’’ It is about the lonely despair of a seemingly hopeless situation.
This Time It Will Last and Anotonga are about our own role in our misfortunes, our weakness for viewing everything, particularly relationships, as better in hindsight and the tendency to secretly crave what we openly rebuke,” he said.
He added, “This is the same theme in Esmeralda in which the challenges of fidelity are explored. In Rasa Musango we have turned the ethical corner, our role is used for spiritual elevation, but only if we rid ourselves of righteous indignation. There are also lighter themes; 602 jive is a laid back jam which reminds me of my youthful days in Rusape and Stop the bullying is an advocacy song to stop bullying in schools. It features the Agape Child Evangelism Team and Potato.”
He further revealed that he is not only a man of the law but a simple young man who is passionate about the development of the arts.
“I am just but a very afrocentric man, a guitar man, passionate about life, love and the African identity. These themes are evident throughout my album and I am truly convinced that there is something for everyone in this offering”, he said, adding that his music was mostly afro jazz, with some adult traditional contemporary and even a tango and Latino style tunes.
Hofisi who revealed that the most fascinating thing about himself is his dreadlock and is convinced that those who believe music is for vagrants are lost.
“It’s a myth which needs to be debunked. The reality is that formal education is one form of learning and experience is another and we all benefit from the rich diversity of expertise we have. The most important thing is to keep depicting and celebrating our culture without casting aspersions at one profession or the other. We also need to celebrate our own luminaries. The tendency by most professionals to shun doing arts is a colonial mentality,” he said, adding that we need to appreciate our culture.
@joeltsvakwi
