Jah Prayzah set a few new bars for album launches last night when he officially released his sixth musical compilation, titled Jerusarema, to a crowd of over 2,000 excited fans, fellow musicians and government officials at the Harare International Conference Centre.
Despite a slow start to the event, fans and other guests showed the young musician love and adoration starting with Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was the guest of honour (VP as guest of honour? New bar right there).
Mnangagwa congratulated Jah Prayzah on his achievement and encouraged him to continue doing good work this would make him Zimbabwe’s future legend, just like Dr.Mtukudzi. “You are so creative, I have never been to a concert or anything of this nature in the past but I am so happy to see you perform very well,” said the Vice President.
“I have been given this honour to launch this sixth album but am so happy to see the guru Oliver Mtukudzi here to celebrate with you. We made him our ambassador for the defence forces and he has done great work. We are proud of you,” he added.
Samanyanga, Dr. Mtukudzi, shared some advice with the young lad saying, “…..Makorokoto, ramba wakadaro, ramba wakatarisa mberi kwauri kuenda, zvakawanda zvinouya, zvinotaurwa zvichanyorwa, ndonzira yacho usacheuke ramba wakatarisa mberi……. (Congratulations keep it up, stay focused. A lot of things will happen, a lot will be said and written about you, that is the way, don’t lose hope, keep pushing on).”
Jah Prayzah is joined on stage with his proud parents.
Then there was a déjà vu moment when businessman, Dr. Philip Chiyangwa, ‘The King of Selfies,’ gave Jah Prayzah two residential stands worth a total of US$27 000 (Once CD for $27,000!? Another new bar) as his payment for the first CD. This is similar to what Chiyangwa did last year as he purchased the first CD after bidding a residential stand during the CD auction.
Another we-saw-this-last-year moment (Jah Prayzah launched his album ‘Kumbumura Mhute’ at the same venue in 2014), Suluman Chimbetu came in and dropped a fiery set which sent the crowd into a frenzy and made Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa jump onto the stage to show off his dancing skills.
One of the most memorable points of the evening was when Jah’s parents joined him on stage.
Sponsored mainly by Savanna Tobacco and estimated to have cost a staggering $75 000 (New bar! New bar!), the launch was a better production than last year’s event. Though it started on a lethargic note, the momentum picked up as the night progressed.
Guests were not only entertained by the soldier boy and his good friend Sulu, but other top artists who included Cynthia Mare, Take 5, Tehn Diamond, and Trevor Dongo.
Amongst the guests were senior government officials, fellow musicians, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe director, Elvas Mari, and various captains of industry.
The build up to the album launch was unlike any other we have ever seen before, with Jah Prayzah’s team putting up at least three billboards (New bar!) around Harare and engaging in various other intense online and offline promotional activities, including using Twitter to invite rapper Tehn Diamond to be part of the event.
Then yesterday morning, as a final PR stunt, a march through the Harare CBD with a police escort and music from the Zimbabwe National Army band (New bar!) which roused the interest of some who may have missed all the other advertising about the concert. ZIMBOJAM