Jah Prayzah is a lot of things to a lot of people, a musical household name, a celebrity, a sex symbol to many and to us, a real life PHENOMENON. We rode along to Bulawayo on a Saturday, the morning after his historical eighth album launch for ‘Mdara VaChauya’ which saw him sell out the 5,000+ seating at the Harare International Conference Centre. Not one to settle for complacence Jah Prayzah, his band Third Generation and an entourage of over 12 vehicles including five 60 – seater busses in tow hit the road for a second launch in Bulawayo. It wouldn’t be a road show of course without a few trips and some Jah Prayzah and fans moments. Stops and drives through Chegutu, Kadoma, Kwekwe and Gweru saw communities either at awe-triggered standstill or under extraordinary levels of hysteria as they hopped onto the busses and chased after Jah Prayzah’s entourage in excitement. Neither I nor the fellow passengers in the said entourage had ever seen or experienced such a thing as the devoted fans screamed and tried their luck at climbing over the bonnet of Jah Prayzah’s SUV to reach him as he waved from the sun roof.
I thought to myself, where have I seen this before … ah yes, 90’s kids would remember the Michael Jackson HIStory tour in 1997 – fainting fans, hysteria etc., but of course many a critic would be quick to call this comparison sensationalised but l digress.
As we arrived in Bulawayo we were told not to expect as big a turn out because of the “language barrier” explained by one of our ‘knowledgeable’ travelling companions. However the scene at the Bulawayo City Hall was contradictory. There stood a crowd clamouring its way into the venue – tickets in hand which the busses had to manoeuvre through. Bulawayo had about 5,000 people that turned up, the venue, Bulawayo City Hall car park was packed to the brim. The police had a tough job controlling the very excited masses. A country favourite Sandra Ndebele and Clive Chigubhu were the MCs for the launch and did a brilliant job entertaining the crowd including an impromptu dance off. The launch kicked off with Judgement Yard who had us chanting along to popular Zim Dancehall tunes and international reggae and dance hall tracks old and new. Shortly after the prize draws Winky D took to the stage around midnight. As always the Gaffa dazzled with his clothing selection and his Egyptian style head gear commanding nothing but a lot of respect from the Bulawayo fan base as belted hit after hit as the crowd sang along to every song. The Ninja President ran a tight set minus the breathing breaks, each song flowed into the next one seamlessly teamed with some memorable audience interaction. Winky D left just as the crowd had hit its peak of being entertained.
Calvin that Luveve Boy made a brief appearance, performing two songs. Starting with his latest offering “Uyangthanda Uyangyekha” and ended with Zkhupani by then the audience was restless and keen to have the main act on stage. Roughly around 2 am the Third Generation band made their way onto the stage with dramatized soldiering amid frenzied cheers, it was finally time for Jah Prayzah to perform. It’s always an exciting experience to witness Jah Prayzah’s entry to the stage. As he started singing the opening line of Mdhara Vachauya, the atmosphere was electric. I almost went deaf with all the fans screaming and jostling to get a great vantage point near the stage.
Of visible note were the new dance routines and drills the Third Generation team performed. There was a moment he actually stopped to soak it all in as the fans screamed and he shed a tear on stage. Whether it’s showmanship or not, that very intimate moment revealed how invested he is in his music and his fans. It was a beautiful moment to witness. It wasn’t when the women in the crowd danced suggestively when the Jah Prayzah Phenomenon hit me, or when the fans broke the stage barricade in excitement BUT it was when they sang along to each and every one of the songs from his new album including ‘Mdara VaChauya’, ‘Hossana’ and ‘Watora Mari’ songs that were barely 24 hours old. It’s no small wonder that the latter whose Music video featured Tanzanian powerhouse Diamond Platinumz has already garnered over 200,000 views on YouTube.
We often say “Tocky aenda ne nyika”, but Jah Prayzah has taken over the country and before we know it the continent too.
Zandile Ndlovu & Stephanie Kapfunde
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