Sungura legend Alick Macheso to release new album in June

Macheso made the announcement in the Zimbabwean town of Chipinge where he was performing last weekend. The release will coincide with his 54th birthday celebrations.

“On 10 June, which happens to be my birthday, we are going to give our fans the long-awaited album. We are still finalising and when it’s time we will reveal the name,” Macheso said while bemoaning the challenges brought on the music industry by the COVID-19 pandemic. “I am happy to have performed here in Chipinge after two years. As artists, we have been severely affected by the lockdown restrictions because we can’t earn anything without live shows.”

His last single release was ‘Zuro Ndizuro’ in 2020. Before that, he released the album Dzinosvitsa Kure in 2018.

Macheso was born in Shamva, central Zimbabwe, and sings in Shona, Chichewa, Sena, Venda and Lingala. He grew up on the farms and left for the capital Harare at the invitation of fellow singer and relative Nicholas Zacharia, who had been impressed with his guitar skills. The two embarked on a musical journey and joined several bands, mostly sungura outfits.

In 1997, Macheso broke ranks with Zacharia to form his own Orchestra Mberikwazvo. He is well known throughout southern Africa as one of the region’s most prolific singers and is ranked among top bass guitarists on the continent.