BY STEVE EPHRAEM
CHIREDZI born firebrand Marhula genre artiste, Peter Mathonsi (nicknamed Dr Nzvedas or Kahle Kahle) of Wendlati Sounds who is plying his trade in South Africa has sensationally claimed that musicians should be innovative in order to survive.
“Music is no longer paying. Most of us release songs just to keep our fans happy. Most musicians have to start complementary income generation projects in order to survive.
“Mainstream music is facing a lot of challenges that if an artist fails to have other income generation projects, life may become miserable.
“We a lot of musicians who are household names but have suffered greatly when they failed to diversify,” he said
Mathonsi is happy that he managed to be innovative.
“I was fortunate to see it coming and quickly startes a hardware manufacturing business in Cape Town. Recently, I estanlished a cleaning services company in Johannesburg. The two projects have helped me to keep my head above water,” he added.
The 40 year old Dr Nzvedas was last in the studios recording a five track album named Munhu wa ntima (Timoti Makondo) in 2020.
Peter Mathonsi’s musical journey started music in 2004 when he joined Masvingo army outfit, 4 Lions Band when the group recorded marhula music guru, Josefa Chauke’s album titled Ntwanano Vol 1 – Zaka Jerera. Mathonsi left the army band after his parents resisted his joining a band as a young person.
He returned to showbiz five years later when he teamed up with his brothers Big Mike and Hardlife “KK”. The trio parted way in 2012 with Big Mike forming Midzhumba ya Africa band and Hardlife forming Chiredzi Stars.
Dr Nzvedas Kahle Kahle has three other studio albums named Murhangi we Ndlela (2009), Nzveda Nzveda (2012) and Ndlela yaVutomi (2016). It’s the third album which made him a household name.