THEY say life begins at 40 but for Pauline hers began on realising that she was gifted at singing at the age of eight when she was asked to sing in a Roman Catholic Church choir.
Another realisation came in high school at Dominican Convent, when she discovered that she was talented as a soloist and mbira player.
At just 17, Pauline made a name for herself as the lead singer of the group Mafriq on its inception, other members included Lovedale “Discord” Makalanga and Tungamirai “Tunga T” Mavi.
Their first song was Pangu Pangu, released in 2002, but their major breakthrough came in 2004, when Mafriq released the song Ndokuudza Sei, popularly known as Ndizvo Chete.
With a discography comprising Ndokuudza Sei on Chamhembe Volume 1, then their first album Chizevezeve, after which came Zuva on Chamhembe Volume 2 before releasing Shungu Dzemoyo.
Around 2010, Tunga T left the group to pursue a solo career in designing and gospel music, leaving Pauline and Discord to continue with the dream, where they released Zambuko before splitting, only for everyone to troop back to Mafriq more than a decade later for the project Matombo on the Chamhembe Zvekare album last year.
And this year, as Pauline celebrates her 40th anniversary, she will launch her EP Ndauya, loosely translated “I am here”.
The EP is a collection of seven new songs and three bonus tracks from her repertoire.
- Ndauya, I’m here: Pauline
Keep Reading
The main track is Ndauya, a gospel song, then there is Tisunungureiwo, a traditional mbira and trap song.
There is also Rudo Rwataakuita, featuring acclaimed rapper Maskiri, with Superwoman, Ma Key, Purpose and Teerera Moyo completing the line up.
Teerera Moyo came out as a teaser last year.
The bonus tracks are Uchandiwana Ndaenda, featuring Zimdancehall star Shinsoman, Work which features Tocky Vibes and Rudo Rwekare, featuring Chipo Muchegwa.
“These three came out last year, but we want to rotate them along with this new project,” she told NewsDay Life & Style.
“The event was inspired by the fact that both artistes work with Afrotonic Sound as recording artistes and their birthdays fall in the same week. It was also a good opportunity to use the platform to launch the new EP, which is an Afrotonic Sound product,” she added.
“The EP is a variety of Afro-fusion tracks, ranging in different genres that I as an artiste feels are my strong points. The songs are also a story of my journey as a person, each song is lyrically loaded.
“It differs from my previous work in that on this project, I did not try to follow trends. I defined my own sound, hence the name Ndauya, meaning I am here and established.”
Pauline said the creative process was team effort among herself, Fuzzy L and Good Kid and her partners at Afrotonic Sound, adding: “We included a collaboration with Maskiri to signify my origin in urban grooves.”
Pauline said her 40th birthday greatly influenced the themes and tones in her songs as “they are based on personal life situations, to date”.
“My musical approach also should reflect my maturity as an artiste who has been doing music for 20 years,” she said.
“We have a line-up of various artistes, a combination of the old and the new. Special thanks to Mafriq, which birthed me into the music scene,” the songstress remarked.
“Urban grooves should not be considered a dead genre. We are here to stay and as we evolve, we would like to reawaken our fans from the past heyday and also relate with new fans from the current audience.
“The role I can play is to simply do what we did before, release plenty of good quality music for the hungry fans.”
Pauline said people should appreciate her for who she is as a “multi-faceted and diverse” artiste.
“My identity may not have been clear in the past as I often collaborated with others and tended to dilute myself to be whatever the project required me to be, but on this EP, it is a full dosage of Pauline,” the former Mafriq lead singer explained.
“I would like to be remembered as a strong person because even though my life has often been troubled, I am determined and chosen for a purpose through my music and art.”
The event, hyped as “Urban Grooves Meets Mbira & Reggae Music”, will take place at Sherwood Golf Course in Mabelreign, Harare.
African reggae musician Mannex Motsi, the founder of Bootkin Klan in 2003 as well as ex-Transit Crew lead singer who turns 45 tomorrow, was one of the first artistes to confirm they will grace the event and share the stage with Pauline.
Hip-hop rapper Maskiri has also confirmed that he will be part of the headline acts.
Mafriq, the group, will also be there, so will be Tererai and Fuzzy L, with a number of other artistes still to confirm.
DJs Woogie, MC Gadzo and Ras Teekay will also make it to Sherwood.
