Keyboard wizard aims for the stars

LISTENING to keyboard wizard John Munodawafa singing, one is tempted to mistake him for Munyaradzi.

Remember Munyaradzi? The young man from Capota School for the Blind who shot to fame through his sing-along song “Shandisa Chipo Chako” when he was just nine years old.

John and Munyaradzi are brothers, and they are both visually impaired.

In fact, in their family of eight, four family members — three boys and one girl — are blind.

Their father, Jonah, is also visually impaired.

They all can sing and play the keyboard. Born in a “polygamous” family set-up, Munyaradzi’s mother, Dorica, is the first wife, while Patricia is the second.

John is the sixth-born.

“I am the only child to my mother (Patricia) and we stay in Nemamwe, Masvingo, although I am currently resident in Harare, where I am studying towards a media degree at the University of Zimbabwe,” said the 25-year-old singer.

The unassuming John, who has spent the greater part of his life in the shadows living with his mother, fell in love with music when he was still nine.

He started playing mbira, marimba and the keyboard. After realising he could sing as well, he started composing songs.

However, it took him years to put together a project. In 2016, when he was doing his Advanced Level, he recorded his first album, “Ndidzivirirei”.

The title track made it into the top 10 on Radio Zimbabwe’s end-of-year Top 50.

The following year, he recorded another album titled “Mwari Vanoshamisa”, which was also on Radio Zimbabwe’s Top 50 later in 2019.

“At first, I would do renditions and with time I got the courage to put together real projects. I was surprised when both albums got positive feedback,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the music industry is a tough one and you have got to figure out a way to stay afloat, which is a challenge when you are still an amateur.”

While he struggled to keep afloat in the cutthroat industry, at home he had even worse struggles to deal with.

His mother struggled to put him through school as she survived on menial jobs.

“We stayed in rural Masvingo, you know such set-ups — life was tough as my mom would work so hard doing maricho to make sure I got basic commodities, as well as go to school,” narrated the youthful singer.

“Even as I took music seriously, it was still tough because of sight issues. Sometimes people shun working with or assisting people like us; sponsors and promoters rarely engage artistes with disabilities.”

John, who is not keen to open up much on his background, reckons the Covid-19 pandemic has even made life tougher for him as he is struggling to get food and shelter, living off-campus.

Even though he and Munyaradzi grew up separately, the two would visit each other, which made them become close. They are, however, still to work on a joint project.

Currently, the Monodawafa brothers are putting together a project on which they will feature their father and younger brother Ownsta, who is studying law at UZ.

Their father, who prefers to be discreet about his family, says he is delighted to work with his sons on the project, which they all agree will leave fans in awe.

“My life has been all about music and it gives me joy seeing my children take the same route,” he said.

“John is the only child to my second wife, while the other seven are born to Dorica. I am a polygamist and that is all I can tell you.

“Munyaradzi is already a big name in the industry and his brothers are on the way to stardom, but what I am most grateful about is they are also pursuing other educational programmes.

“I am not saying music is bad, but it is the time to prepare a backup plan in case they fail to survive in the arts.”

John is set to release two singles early this year. An album, including music videos, will follow before year-end.

On the other hand, Munyaradzi is concentrating full time on music, with an album also set to be dropped in the first half of the year.