SOUTH African disco musician Freddie Gwala revealed that his debut Zimbabwe tour forced Jamaican star Shabba Ranks to cancel his tour of the country.
Shabba Ranks, born Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon, was one of the most popular Jamaican musicians in the world in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
He became popular in North America with his album, Just Reality in 1990. He went on to release two albums- As Raw as Ever and X-tra Naked which both won a Grammy award for best reggae in 1992 and 1993, respectively.
He is popular with his globally acclaimed songs such as Mr Loverman and Ting- A- Ling, which became his signature songs.
Chronicling his musical journey, Gwala revealed in a podcast how his debut Zimbabwean tour forced a high riding Shabba Ranks to cancel his tour.
"A top radio DJ Ezra Tshisa Sibanda loved one of my songs I had done. He tracked me down in South Africa and found me in the studio working on Madamara," said Gwala.
"After hearing Madamara, he forgot about that other song and fell in love with Madamara. He took the song on a cassette before it was ready and launched here (South Africa).
"The song blew up in Zimbabwe and a promoter flew to South Africa to book me," he added.
- Zim headed for a political dead heat in 2023
- Record breaker Mpofu revisits difficult upbringing
- Tendo Electronics eyes Africa after TelOne deal
- Record breaker Mpofu revisits difficult upbringing
Keep Reading
Gwala was booked the same weekend as Shabba Ranks.
"My first time in Zimbabwe was massive, I remember Shaba Ranks was booked this same week, he perfomed on a Friday and there were only 50 people at his show, come Saturday at my show — it was packed.
Shabba Ranks went on to perfom only two shows and cancelled the rest of his tour because of me," he said.
Gwala heaped praises on Zimbabwe and its love for his music.
"My first time in Harare, the capital, I was welcomed by a limousine and the media was ready to capture my journey there," he said.
"South Africans don't know how big I am in other countries, in Botswana they treat me with respect. I was big here in South Africa but its Zimbabweans who made me stronger, I love and respect them."
Gwala shared the stage with the late Oliver Mtukudzi, and at one time produced Paul Matavire's album.
Recently Gwala did a song with Visa Mkhanya, the song celebrates Highlanders Football club, the country's oldest club.
In the past Gwala has produced a song called Tshilamoya, a dedication to Bosso.
