Maskiri saved by the bell

maskiri macheso

Top Zimbabwe musician Alick Macheso has thrown Maskiri who turned destitute a lifeline by offering the urban groover a chance to perform at his shows.

Maskiri (real name Alishias Musimbe) has turned destitute at Guruve business centre before the latest offer by Macheso. Macheso’s manager William Tsandukwa said Maskiri would be the supporting artist at some of the Sungura artiste’s shows.

He said the controversial musician was slated to peform at Macheso show at Waterwhirld in Harare on Saturday (November 7). Maskiri had fallen on hard times after relocating to Guruve were he made headlines by begging for beer to revelers at the rural business centre.

Maskiri is a controversial Zimbabwean rapper whose rapping style is similar to that of the American rapper Eminem. He rose to fame in late 2002 with the track 'Muchinda Wangu' (My Friend) which later featured on his debut album 'Muviri Wese' (The whole body). Almost every song on the album became a radio hit with tracks like 'Zimhamha' (Voluptuous, mature woman) and "Kwedu Kuchafiwa" which loosely translated to "My Loved Ones Shall Die Too!". The latter is a song bad mouthing an inheriting son by boasting that his rich relatives shall die too and he will also get inheritance of money and women.

In the track 'Muchinda Wangu' ("My Friend") he compares God to a streetwise gangster and he refers to Him as 'dhara rangu' which is slang meaning 'my old man'. The song courted exceptional controversy resulting in a public condemnation of his work. The song was eventually dumped from the airwaves after Christian protests. In "Madam Mombeshora" he sings about an illicit relationship with his schoolteacher.

These are but just a few examples but Maskiri has proven to be popular in the Zimbabwe Hip Hop scene (which is often referred to as Urban Grooves). He has had quite successful collaboration concerts and has released the following albums, Blue Movie, Muviri Wese ("The Entire Body") and the very popular Tapinda Tapinda. Known for his hit song Tiri tsono with Munyaradzi Musiwacho , a song that became an instant hit.