SOUL JAH LOVE HAILED
FRIENDS and fellow musicians reckon Soul Jah Love deserved a dignified farewell after enduring a life characterised with agony, misfortune and bad luck.
The chanter, who died at the age of 31, was laid to rest on Saturday at Warren Hills Cemetery.
Speaking to H-Metro at his burial, where he was given a liberation hero status, they said Chibaba was indeed a legend in his own right.
“When Sauro sang Kana Ndafa, he was wishing for everyone to learn that most of the things people assumed of him were lies, for instance that he and I were enemies was a lie,” said Seh Calaz.
“What he could do in 10 minutes, I needed four to five days to perfect my craft, and whenever we recorded diss songs, we would call each other before release.
“Rest in Peace my king twin, chigunduru chairema, you made me become a better person both in real life and music wise.
“You deserved the gun salute my general,” said Seh Calaz.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Kinnah, who said no one will fit in Soul Jah Love’s shoes.
“He had developed a skill, that of singing about his departure. He led a life well deserving a hero’s send off. Mangoma haacharamba akadaro.
“No one will sing the way he did, no one will give Zimdancehall meaning as he did and no one will sing about real life situations like he did,” he said.
Soul Jah Love, Seh Calaz and Kinnah won the 2013 Zimdancehall Ghetto vs Ghetto Cup clash hosted at City Sports Centre, thanks to Red Rose Entertainment.
Soul Jah Love’s cousin and family spokesperson Solomon Musaka said the chanter put the family name on the map.
“He was our icon. He made us brag about having Musaka as a last name.
“It was a befitting send off and we appreciate everything the State accorded him until we buried him.
“It’s unfortunate he had lost both his parents, his twin brother and grandmother at a tender age, while he was also enduring being a Type 1 diabetic for many years.
“He gave himself the name Chingunduru and whatever happened during the course of his life was between him and us as a family,” he said.
The chanter was laid to rest next to his father, Ephraim Ticharwa Musaka.
It was a befitting send-off for the chanter who was honoured with a gun salute.
Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan
Province Oliver Chidawu was the guest of honour.
Several musicians across genres were also in attendance.
Security details had a torrid time controlling thousands of mourners — mainly ghetto yutes who came to ‘say goodbye’ to Chibaba.
His Conquering Family, including Supa Yut, ManaMana, Changara, Ricardo and Gaza among others, acted as pallbearers.
Fellow chanter Seh Calaz performed his song Kana Ndafa followed by a sing along from the fans.
Senator Byton Musaka, uncle to the musician, was also in attendance.
REGISTERED music promoter and entrepreneur Nyasha ‘Machembere’ Dope on Saturday praised late chanter and liberation hero Soul Jah Love as a lyrical legend who deserved all the honours.
Machembere, who is the director of Big Apple Entertainment Promotions, applauded Government for the conferment of the liberation hero status to Chibaba as a remarkable endorsement.
Chibaba died on February 16 aged 31 and was buried over the weekend at Warren Hills Cemetery.
And being one of the few remaining female promoters who worked closely with Chibaba, Machembere said the Conquering Family boss’ music won’t be interfered with.
“Jah Love was passionate about his music. To me he was not just a dancehall musician but an artiste I can listen to as he sang from the heart,” she said.
Machembere hailed the Ndini Uya Uya hit-maker for his creative edge, which made him a cut above the rest.
“Whenever he released an album or single, it was a gem, always. He was a lyrical legend.
“He changed the face of Zimdancehall, a genre known and associated with medleys, riddims only, shallow and bubble gum songs.
“In him, he composed mature music which appealed across all ages since the music was lyrically rich.
“I also understood his music more because
I see myself through him since I grew up as an orphan,” she said.
Machembere, who first worked with Soul Jah Love six years ago at her entertainment joint in the heart of the capital, said the youthful chanter was committed to his work despite his ill-health.
“I remember in 2015, we did a Bob Marley commemoration at Big Apple Night Club in
the capital where everyone was doubting if Jah Love would come and sure he came late and everyone got worried.
“When he appeared on stage, everyone was happy and you could see that fans were very happy about his performance.
“Despite power cuts on the night, he continued singing and even advised sound engineers to fix the problem.
“When power was restored, fans started singing along with him and that’s when I realised that he was indeed talented,” she said.
Regarding the liberation hero status he was given, Machembere said:
“He fully deserved it but it’s really sad that some people only recognised his impact after his death.
“He touched hearts of many with his music both locally and internationally yet other people used to ridicule him.”
On lessons that can be drawn from Soul Jah Love’s farewell, she added: “I have learnt that Soul Jah Love touched and changed many people’s lives through his music; I have also realised that if you do good, you will have followers, even silent followers who follow you secretly.
“In short, Chibaba has taught us that we need to impact other people’s lives before we die so that we can be remembered for the good things we did.”
Besides promoting Zim dancehall chanters at her joint, Machembere has hosted artistes from the ‘mainstream music industry’ among them Alick Macheso, Jah Prayzah, Andy Muridzo, Peter Moyo and Baba Harare among others.
She has also been applauded for reviving mbira sessions at her entertainment hub and had plans to take the mbira sessions countrywide before they were affected by the Covid19 pandemic.