Madamara back in the picture

14 Dec, 2014 - 00:12 0 Views

The Sunday News

HE is no stranger to the entertainment industry and could be idolised by many as the local god-father of entertainment although he has had his fair share of the ups and downs associated with the risks of being in the arts industry.
Possessing the Midas touch, he was one of the first black Zimbabweans to organise a successful international show.

His real name is Davies Ncube but many know him as Madamara, a name that he earned and was to be a constant reminder of a flopped show that he organised in Harare where South African artiste Freddy Gwala was at the apex of his musical career after he had just released the album Amadamara that became an anthem in Bulawayo as it was played in almost every kombi and at house parties.

Realising the love that the people of Bulawayo had for the album and the artiste, Ncube thought the same applied to Harare but he was wrong. In fact very wrong as was proved by the flopping of the show when he had anticipated big returns.

That was a show that nearly led to the demise of Ncube’s illustrious career in the entertainment industry but somehow he managed to pick himself up and organise some more spectacular shows, within and outside Zimbabwean borders. He admitted it was a miscalculation on his part and that it taught him a thing or two in his career.

About a fortnight ago Sunday Leisure senior reporter Peter Matika (PM) had the opportunity to sit and chat with the local god-father of entertainment where he said he was back in the game more as a consultant than a promoter and had a lot planned to try and ensure that the entertainment industry is rekindled in Bulawayo.

PM: It’s both an honour and a pleasure to meet one of the men that are iconised by the city as drivers of the local entertainment industry. For those of us who are not well knowledgeable of who you are, please give us a brief run-down of your biography.

Madamara: I started off as a DJ in the early 80s, performing across the country. I played a mixed set of music. I worked with the likes of George Munetsi, who is now based in South Africa. I always had a passion for promoting artistes and holding shows, that is where my destiny lies. I promoted shows such as fashion shows, beauty pageants and more but what I really wanted to do was go international. These shows had become too small for me and I had to move a step further.

PM: Interesting but wasn’t it easier to start off locally before going international?
Madamara: Yes I started off holding local shows. I promoted almost all genres of music and local music gurus of the time, talk of the likes of John Chibadura, Simon Chimbetu and many others. I, however, still feel that my capacity was not used to its fullest locally then. I decided to take a risk and go international. I started off with the South African market during the late 80’s. I brought in the likes of the Soul Brothers, Chico, PJ Powers, Dan Tshanda and the late Lucky Dube, to name but just a few.

PM: Since you had built such a reputation what happened then?
Madamara: It so happened that I miscalculated and brought Freddy Gwala after he had just done his hit song Amadamara. I thought he was popular across Zimbabwe. I took him to Harare with my cash trunks but I was wrong and made losses. That’s where I got the name Madamara from. I had to make a plan and recover. I brought him to Bulawayo and just one of his shows settled everything. The miscalculation was that he was not received in Harare as he was in Bulawayo.

PM: That was a miscalculation for sure but luckily you managed to recover. So why did you stop?
Madamara: The economy is a bit cruel and stifling. I had other business ventures and the fact that the industry was now being infiltrated by these fly-by-night promoters who have done no good to the industry but rather destroy it. People should understand that there is a lot involved in entertainment promotion. I have been there and I think my record speaks for itself. I have successfully promoted artistes from as far as Jamaica and UK.

PM: So what can you say about the local arts industry at present?
Madamara: It’s pathetic, the corporate world is not supportive. Compared to our neighbouring South Africa we seriously need to go back to the drawing board. In South Africa if an international artiste the likes of the late pop icon Michael Jackson was billed for a show big companies such as Coca-Cola would chip in but here it’s a different story entirely.

PM: Are we likely to see you coming back to promote local shows?
Madamara: I really don’t know but I stopped promoting shows when I parted ways with Dan Tshanda. Since then he has never made huge money the way we used to. I am now more into consultancy than promoting shows. I still on the other hand do foreign shows.

PM: So what are you currently engaged in and what have you planned for the festive?
Madamara: I am currently running the Terrace spot and will soon be opening a club called the Private Eye in town. We are coming up with different themes every day and have innovative ideas that are likely going to see us being the best leisure spot in the city. The place caters for mature people and we always invite mature artistes to perform here. Our programmes will set the mood and determine the crowd. We are still organising a big bash for this festive season whose details will be made available once we are done with logistics.

PM: Thank you for your time and wish you the best.

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