The Sunday News
Raisedon Baya
THE year 2018 is one of another national election in Zimbabwe. There is so much excitement around the BVR voting system and renewed hope to elect leaders that will usher in a new Zimbabwe. Many people are being encouraged to register to vote — I see a lot of artistes being used to woo potential voters to register. The Zimbabwe Election Commission (Zec) has even extended registration!
I have registered to vote and very much looking forward to elections. So in preparation for this very important national exercise I have started voting for random things, trying to pick winners. My vote for the most promising artiste — the one artiste Bulawayo should be on the lookout for — goes to the multi-talented Japhet Mlauzi aka Hwabaraty.
Hwabaratty, also known among his young fans, as the black chocolate started from the very bottom in the sector. He has been in the arts for years and has literally done everything and shown the city of Bulawayo and its people that he is nothing but a dark bundle of serious talent. It would be a serious shame if talent such as exhibited by Hwabaraty is not supported and pushed to the next level. A proven dancer, actor, poet, drummer/percussionist, MC, songwriter and singer. Yes, the young man is no ordinary talent.
As an out of school young boy the artiste cut his teeth as a dancer and drummer under Alexander Mhlanga’s now defunct Amawumbo Dance ensemble.
It was with this group that he tasted his first international tour. After Amawumbo he did a stint with Kwabatsha Dance Ensemble. Then he auditioned and was cast in the Patrice Naimbiana written and directed play, Gospel of Othello, which premiered at Intwasa some five years ago. Suddenly he was into kwaito and hip-hop, writing and recording songs. His first album was a Kwaito album called Kasi Lami. His talents caught the eyes of Jeys Marabini who immediately put him under his wings, mostly as a drummer/percussionist and sometimes as a dancer and backing vocalist. Again he toured Europe with Jeys. Then in 2017 Hwabaraty launched his solo career with his second debut album Woza Nhlanhla. The launch took the arts sector by surprise. It was colourful and well thought and took most of his guests by sheer surprise. The rawness of his talent, and its richness was suddenly out in the open. Here was a gem, raw, still unpolished and waiting to be discovered. Many people sat up, excited.
This past week, 13 January, Hwabaraty launched his third album at Bulawayo Theatre — a different venue from the Woza Nhlanhla launch. This third album is aptly tittle Isilwane. And on stage the young man roared like a lion wanted to be noticed. Like his second album launch the Isilwane launch was a breath of fresh air. It will be remembered for its theatrical presentation. I have not seen anything like it before. Watching his performance one has this great feeling of watching a musical theatre. The aesthetics of the stage set were beautiful and well thought. The set showed the seriousness with which Hwabaraty is taking his art. And whoever thought and designed the set is a showbiz person. He knew how to appeal to the eye.
The launch was short but powerful. What a launch should be. It must always leave audiences wanting more. That the young man has matured was evidenced by his move from blending a variety of genres and roping in Bulawayo’s top artistes and giving it his all. His performances had traces of jazz, mbaqanga, kwaito and imbube. There was something spiritually rich about the music. My favourite was the love song he collaborated with Ntando. It is a feel good song that most of us will soon be singing along to.
So my first vote of the year goes to this talented young man called Hwabaraty. He deserves all our support this year.
