King Black is Byo’s Zim Dancehall supremo
PARENTS have been urged to pay school fees on time and those facing challenges should make payment plans with the school.
Speaking at Mzilikazi High School last Wednesday during the bus commissioning ceremony, Bulawayo Acting Provincial Education Director Mrs Ollicah Fikelephi Kaira said school fees is used to sustain operations.
“The schools cannot achieve their goals because some parents are lacking in fees payment whereas some are saying that school heads are misusing school funds and because of this they can’t pay. If parents are not able to pay fees before schools open they should make payment plans with the school so that the school is able to plan ahead. Lack of fees payment also compromises children’s future because it will be traumatising them.”
Parents owe Mzilikazi High School $200 000. Some children are now dropping out of school because parents are not able to pay school fees especially from rural areas and some are forced into marriage, she added.
Mrs Kaira said school heads and their deputies have been in workshops where they have been taught on how to handle school finances.
“Parents should not be afraid of school finances because the ministry is also part of the school finances, the school heads do not handle the school funds and also there are audits that are done in schools regularly,” she said.
The School Development Associationation chairperson, Mr Austin Moyo said, “The school started saving for the bus from 2013 and we are happy that the pupils can be taken anywhere and at anytime unlike when the bus has been hired.”
The school is working on the routes that will be used to ferry pupils from their homes to school at a cost of 25 cents. Mzilikazi High School has bought a new 75-seater Marcopolo bus worth $90 000.
During the ceremony there was a tour around the school for guests. Mzilikazi High is one the schools with closed circuit television (CCTV) for the school security, biometric clocking system, teachers scan their fingers on the machine which recognises their fingerprints to record when they report for work and when they go home. It replaced the manual log book which was easily manipulated by some individuals.
It also has white boards which are used to project when teaching. Unlike other schools in high-density areas, it has WiFi accessible to everyone in the school unlike in other schools where it will be available to the school office only.
The SDA also handed over 10 laptops for all Head of Departments (HOD) and a 42-inch flat screen television which is also required in the new curriculum. The school is now working on building a double-storey block. WITH Zim Dancehall being the most preferred musical genre, particularly by the youths, it is no wonder why artistes in the genre continue to thrive, musically and continuously change their game to remain at the top.
The genre is mostly popular in Harare and it comes as no surprise that Zim Dancehall is dominated by MCs from that region.
Several artistes from the City of Kings have tried to penetrate the genre but with little success, with language being their number one adversary. However, this has not stifled one player that eagerly seeks to penetrate not only the genre but the music industry.
Born Donious Josia Bhebhe 26 years ago and known by his stage name King Black and with a single album to his name, the MC is rearing to take a crack at the genre’s ‘‘deity’’.
King Black, who seeks to turn himself into a local legend, has so far managed to break into the industry, having performed at several shows around the country and even in South Africa, since venturing into the industry. He had this to say: “My journey began in 2015, I have always loved singing, and I used to sing at school and even in church. And now here I am, trying to take a crack at this industry. I have performed at quite a number of places namely Royal Club, Club Forty 40, Waverly, Umqombothi Sports Bar in Nkulumane, Whatever Sports Bar in Lobengula, at Jabula Inn in Esigodini, Cane Club in Shurugwi, Donodzo Night Club in Mberengwa and even in South Africa at Safari Hotel,” he said.
King Black said it was however, not easy to make a name in the industry, particularly for him as an artiste hailing from the city of Kings.
“By fate I have managed to perform as an opening act for the genre’s kings such as She Calaz, Soul Jah Love, Free Man and Killer T at a show that was held last year in Bulawayo,” said King Black.
Deriving his inspiration from Zim Dancehall chanter She Calaz, King Black says he feels he is on the right path and hopes to eventually be recognised as a prince among his predecessors.
“My music speaks for itself. It appeals to anyone; I mean if my own parents enjoy and can listen to it then the assumption is that it is good. It really wasn’t easy getting here, with my parents strongly against this career path,” said King Black.
He however, said for the music industry to thrive and to be more competitive it needed to open its doors to new players, such as him.
“We need corporates to chip in and for show organisers to include us on line ups,” he said.
King Black’s album is titled Tenda Mwari, which is a compilation of various societal topics.
He so far has sent his music to radio stations and awaits airplay.
He has worked with several DJs, he pays tribute to.
“DJs such as Lincman, Brooklyn and Yut have all played a pivotal role in getting me out there and my name can’t be said without mentioning them,” he said. whom