Alick Macheso

Alick Macheso came onto the music scene as a solo artist in 1998, with his debut album Magariro, which carried "Pakutema Munda ", probably the least noticeable from that album.But the first cut never received any recognition and the following year he was to release Vakiridzo.Similarly, the response was lukewarm and in the coming 12 months, he went back into the studio and came out with Simbaradzo. Simbaradzo was to be the turning point is his career and Mundikumbuke and Amai VaRubhi brought Macheso into the limelight.He was to follow on the success of Simbaradzo with Zvakanaka Zvakadaro.He can dance, sing and play the guitar - a rare combination of skills among musicians.Zvakanaka Zvakadaro was followed, in 2003, by Zvido Zvenyu Kunyanya.The popular Zora Butter dance in 2011 is Macheso's initiative. Macheso was born in 1968 in Shamva, 90 kilometres to the north of Harare, to parents of Malawian origin - a fact that was to inspire him to be able to speak and sing in five languages - Shona, Chichewa, Sena, Venda and Lingala.Growing on a farm, especially before Zimbabwe's Independence from Britain in 1980, the environment did not offer him many opportunities.In 1983, at the youthful age of 15, he left the farm compounds of Shamva to head for Harare. Arriving in the capital at the invitation of a relative, who had been inspired by Macheso's guitar-playing prowess at the farm compounds, the two went on a music-inspired journey, joining several bands, mostly sungura-playing outfits. In 1997, he broke ranks with the Khiama Boys fronted by Nicholas Zakaria, to form his own Orchestra Mberikwazvo. He is well known throughout Southern Africa as one of the most successful singers and ranked among the best bass guitarists on the continent.He is Zimbabwe's best-ever selling artiste with his album Simbaradzo being the highest ever sold album in Zimbabwe.Macheso is arguably the best sungura artist to ever emerge from Zimbabwe.In recent years Macheso has risen to become an advertising face for many corporations with his recent achievement being an ambassador for the Red Cross.