Mzekezeke: 'One more album and I'm out'

Mzekezeke: 'One more album and I'm out'

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By Showbiz Reporter

JUST as he forced his entry into the public consciousness as the masked agitator for South Africa's poor, kwaito king Mzekezeke plans to anonymously exit the stage with a loud bang, New Zimbabwe.com can reveal today.

In an exclusive interview with this website in Leeds, England at the weekend, Mzekezeke told us what his fans hoped they would never hear: "I am having one last album, then I quit while I am still ahead of my game."

Mzekezeke's new album Izinyoka was released late October and had sold 60 000 copies within three weeks. The 17-track album is set to eclipse the triple-platinum selling Sguqa and Storotoro.

Speaking from underneath his trademark black balaclava, and clad in an orange overall and All Star footwear, Mzekezeke said the point was never to get famous and recognised on the streets of Johannesburg where he grew up.

"Mzekezeke is an inspiration to everyone," he says referring to himself in the third person. "Mzekezeke has always wanted to show people that anyone can be successful - you don't need to be beautiful, handsome or wear nice clothes to make it in life. Many people have been inspired by that and I am greatly appreciative to the fans who have supported me -- an ordinary, unemployed, anonymous man who can't sing."

Reference to his singing talents, or lack of them, is not new. In all his three albums to date, he constantly says "ngiyafosta", slang for "I am forcing".

But it is a message his fans care less about, the same way they no longer care about his real identity. He has been voted by fans as Artist of the Year for the past two consecutive years, also winning Song of the Year during the same period.

Mzekezeke who is the main artist at TS Records with Brown Dash and Ntando revealed that he is currently grooming exciting new artists, notably Mseshman and 51 Cent whose voices can be heard on his new album.

Interestingly, the title of the new album - Izinyoka - is the name of a new group to launch soon within the TS Records stable. It will be fronted by Mzekezeke, Brown Dash and Ntando. Something like 50 Cent's G Unit or Eminem's D12, for our Americanised friends!

"Helping others achieve their goals from a hopeless situation is what I set out to do," says Mzekezeke. "I wanted to inspire our youths who are unemployed and show them that with hard work, nothing is impossible."

When he does decide to quit, Mzekezeke will say he was not the first one to quit while at the top. Jay Z did it and is now concentrating on his business empire. Mzekezeke, who has a TV programme on Channel O, plans to do more TV work and also help charities and youth groups in South Africa when he finally hangs that mask!
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shapiro@newzimbabwe.com