Will talent ever come better than Mukadota?
SEVERAL artists have emerged over the years but none has come close to matching the late Safirio “Mukadota” Madzikatire.
The charismatic comedian, composer and guitarist pioneered and popularised blending music and drama, an art that remains popular to this day.
Artistes like Freddy “Kapfupi” Manjalima and Kireni Zulu are arguably offsprings of Mukadota’s influence.
His touch was pure magic!
The inimitable artist made a huge impact that is hard to forget decades after his demise.
Mukadota breathed life to both radio and television drama.
He embarked on his artistic journey in the late 40s when he was still a learner at Chitsere Primary school in Harare’s oldest high-density suburb of Mbare.
He started with a radio programme known as “Mhuri YavaMakore”, which later morphed into “Mhuri YavaMukadota” in 1972.
Outside drama, his presence was also felt on the music stage.
Those who grew up during his time have fond memories of his animated live gigs.
He was instrumental in promoting women participation in the arts sector, especially after Independence.
Who can forget the key roles he gave to vivacious dancer-cum-actor Elizabeth “Katarina” Taderera and Susan “Amai Rwizi” Chenjerai?
“Mukadota needs to be declared a national hero even if it has been many years since his death. This guy was one of the pioneers of comedy, acting, singing; he was as entertainer par excellence,” reminisced Gertrude Kaseke on one of Mukadota’s productions posted online. He was a performer that was refreshing. So brilliant was his exploits that 26 years after his death, we are still to get a fitting successor.
His performances on the small screen and live music stage live on, never to be forgotten.
His lyrics and drama scripts were so poignant and transcendental that snippets of his work continue to be used to interpret current events.
Mukadota’s work was characterised by effortless charm and charisma.
And it is the splendid display of raw emotion and unparalleled acting skills that easily place him as one of the leading, if not the leading, heroes of local showbiz.
The affable and multi-talented Mukadota probably set the bar high in drama with “Mukadota Family”, which was shot from around 1982 to 1996.
Viewers still rate the production as one of the best television shows to have been produced in the country.
Similarly, many doubt if ever we will get production(s) of that magnitude.
Modern-day dramas are often half-baked and unappealing.
What has gone wrong?
“We took time doing rehearsals so that the end-product was perfect. Besides, production of dramas was not open to everyone. ZBC had trained producers and directors unlike now where everyone can produce a drama because they have money and equipment,” argues veteran arts practitioner Aaron Chiundura Moyo.
“Casting is no longer done on merit. Also, there is no more genuine criticism from the media. Modern-day reviews lack substance as it is now all about pleasing each other.”
Madzikatire, who was also affectionately known as Baba Rwizi, had a cast of a few people, among them Mai Rwizi, Baba and Mai Phineas, Bonnie, Madhuve, Rwizi and his wife Katarina, Chibhodhoro and Machipisa.
However, the small cast still managed to produce an explosive act.
The storyline was simple and the characters, according to former ZBC veteran producers, never followed a written script.
The crew was only briefed on what was expected on a particular episode.
Mukadota’s comedy was expressed with the aid of music that he composed and played.
Every now and then, he would use street lingo, some of which is still in use today.
For instance, in one of the episodes he tells Mai Rwizi to slow down in public, fearing embarrassment, “Itai easy vanhu vakati backer.”
His “Andinzwi”, “Ndarohwa tongue yangu ikavhurika” and “American goulash” chants after his brief ‘stay’ in the United States remain popular.
Even the late Dr Oliver Mtukudzi dedicated the song “Andinzwi” to him.
“Oh my goodness, we used to buy his music. Still remember one album written Safirio Madzikatire with the Sea Cottage Sisters. He was also good in drama, particularly where he wanted to cheat Mai Rwizi and had a white wedding with his girlfriend, and, boom!, Mai Rwizi got wind of that, the rest is history! kkkkk Again that one where he came from America asingagoni kutaura Shona akarohwa nemachinda,” writes another fan, McGates Masango Marvelous, commenting on the late artist’s work.
Another fan added: “He came into the arts industry during a time when people, particularly women, in the entertainment industry were stigmatised and labelled as fools or those of loose morals and helped change the negative perception.” In 2009, Madzikatire was posthumously honoured through the Arts Service Award by the National Arts Council.
Besides Kapfupi and Zulu, the late Lawrence “Bhonzo” Simbarashe is also another testimony of the power and influence of Mukadota’s productions on new generations.
Kapfupi rose to fame through street theatre productions that were moulded along the “Mukadota Family” set-up.
The comedian had a set of actors consisting of main characters such as Charles “Marabha” Merisi, Jeffery “Aphiri” Chikwesere and Mai Trouble on “Magariro”.
The cast literally set ablaze primetime viewing around 2000.
Mudhara Bhonzo, who partnered with Timothy “Timmy” Tapfumanei and others on “Bhonzo neChikwata”, also copied everything from Mukadota.
However, none of the actors have managed to match or surpass Mukadota’s standards.
Even his son Elijah, whom he had performed with both in drama and music, tried to revive his father’s legacy with the comedy “Bhero Mukadota” but the results were disastrous.
He was generally considered by many not to be a gifted artist.
In music, Mukadota churned out timeless classics that include “KuHunyani”, “Usandisiye” and “Ndatenga Mota”, “Ndinokuda”, among others.
Mukadota was born in 1932 and died in 1996. He may be gone but he will forever be remembered. He certainly is an arts hero that deserves special mention each time we remember fallen and surviving heroes that have shaped this country over the years.