SOUTH AFRICA-BASED Zimbabwean sungura musician Chris “Million” Masocha is mulling bringing his mbaure genre across the Limpopo when he comes home in April.
This comes as the musician, who fronts the Livewire Band, is set to launch the genre on February 1 at Port Elizabeth joint Club Tropicana.
Through the launch, Masocha said, he would be taking mbaure to the people.
The Mhondoro-bred singer, who has turned professional as he is now a full-time musician, said mbaure was a classic sungura sub-genre although it was slower.
“I will be bringing the mbaure genre home — Zimbabwe — in April. It is unique in that it plays with four guitars, the saxophone and marimba. It is slower than sungura though.
“On February 1 when we launch it, I promise my fans a night to remember — a whole night of quality classic sound and dances. We are going to give it our best but there is more to come as we will improve as time goes on,” said Masocha, who is widely regarded as having popularised sungura in Mzansi.
“People are very excited about the launch as shown by their response on social media; they are pining to have a feel of this unique genre,” he added.
Born on April 13, 1980, Masocha attended Kawara Primary School in Mubaira, Mhondoro, from Grade 1 to 7 before moving to Beatrice High School, where he remained until Form Three when he moved to Seke 4 High School.
- Red Cross Society converts old building into clinic
- Mastering change: A conversation with Jon Foster-Pedley
- Microfinance sector must innovate: Banker
- Top doctor honoured for role in public health
Keep Reading
He later enrolled with Speciss College for a Certificate in Building Trades.
Masocha said he liked music from an early age, but there was no one around to teach him.
“It took me very long to really get into it because of lack of exposure since I happen to be a reserved individual who likes living by himself. It was only when I was already in South Africa that I really started writing songs,” said Masocha, added that getting into music was a way of fulfilling a dream that was growing within him.
One day after meeting Chitungwiza group Zim Select while celebrating his birthday at Welcome Club back home in Zimbabwe, he was asked about his music.
“I was taken aside by Patrick Mpala who asked me if I had any written music. I told him that I had many written songs before going on stage to perform some of them,” added the musician.
Later, Masocha said, he started working on a demo with Mpala.
The Zim Select group saw that he was talented and started rehearsing with him.
“This led to our first album Muri Huchi in 2017,” he said, adding that he was a unique singer who could play several genres.
“All along, I had no specific genre although I was comfortable with sungura.”
Masocha has several pieces to his name, including Tanha Dzaunosvikira (2019), Chasatani Hachidyiwe Mahara (2021), Mhanduwe Musadaro, Kumhunga Kune Ipwa and Haribude Rakamirirwa (2024).
An information technology person, Masocha said he was a street hustler, with shops that sell computers and accessories. He also runs salons in Port Elizabeth.
However, Masocha, who is popularly known as Million, said his mind was on music and he felt he would go far.
“I have a lot in store. In three years’ time, music should take us far, including taking our music to other countries in the region and beyond,” he said.
The Port Elizabeth-based musician last year bagged the Best Male Musician gong at the Nelson Mandela Bay Zim Business Excellence Awards in Port Elizabeth.
