The Sunday News
Kudzai Mpangi, Sunday Life Reporter
THE phenomenal forerunner of perhaps the most influential wave in contemporary urban Zimbabwean music, Leonard Mapfumo has made his debut on the acting scene, probably exploring his other talents in the arts.
With a successful music career full of hits topping national charts and being named the Urban Grooves godfather, Mapfumo has managed to not merely do both, but do both disciplines well.
According to the Maidei hit maker, the series KuChina has been an awesome experience for him as it tickles issues that affect women in their day to day live.
“It has been an astounding experience playing a role of Farai in the local soapie which plays on ZBC every Saturday, which tickles on issues to do with women and I’m sharing the stage with prominent actors who are very passionate about what they do,” Mapfumo said.
The Harare-born and bred musician expressed a deep affection for his new career path since it’s his first time in the acting industry.
“The experience has been quite interesting, even though this is a new path for me I will always give my best in it and ensure that I attain greater achievements in it. It has given me a new found respect for the film industry,” he said.
His new venture does not however, imply that he will be taking a sabbatical in his established music career but rather the rapper revealed that he will be simultaneously dabbling in the two ventures.
“For this year I have decided to release more music, do videos and hopefully if all goes well I will be releasing a new album which I’m currently working on and also doing the new adventure that I have been pursuing,” he said.
Mapfumo has also directed his musical facets on grooming and creating job opportunities for the arts with the help of the Chinese Embassy.
“I have been working with a lot of up-and-coming artistes, this initiative started as early as 2002 when we mentored and discovered artistes like Tererai Mugwadi and Taurai Mandevvu in 2008 and since then I have been helping a lot of artistes to make their dream come true with the support of the Chinese Embassy,” he said.
Mapfumo this year celebrates 19 years in the music industry. —@kayskudzai
