HARARE - Seasoned sungura musician Nicholas “Madzibaba” Zacharia says he has no problem with break-away artistes from his Khiama Boys Band who perform his songs during shows.

The sungura godfather’s young brother Zacharia Zacharia who now leads the Chili Band, has been playing Madzibaba’s songs during concerts around the country.

The junior Zacharia broke away from Khiama along with sungura kingpin Alick Macheso to form Orchestra Mberikwazvo before breaking away yet again to form the Chili Band.

Madzibaba told the Daily News yesterday that his sibling has a legitimate right to perform Khiama songs.

“There is no problem for Zaka Zaka and even Alick Macheso to perform my songs during their shows,” said Khiama Boys band leader.

“They were both groomed by Khiama Boys so they play Khiama songs with my blessing. As their mentor it gives me great pleasure to see them excelling.”

He added that it would be grossly unfair to let the “boys” start from scratch yet they grew up in Khiama Boys.

“Zaka Zaka and Macheso are still loyal to Khiama and they still have the privilege to benefit from the band; they are real sons of Khiama Boys”.

Zaka Zaka recently staged a joint show with the RBG Top Sungura in Marondera where he belted out old Khiama Boys hits such as Chikumbiro much to the delight of his fans.

With other musical families in the country like the Chimbetus and the Browns at odds with each other over rights to songs created by their forbearers, many have been expecting Madzibaba to bar his brother from playing his songs.

Suluman Chimbetu, son of the late dendera legend Simon, made headlines when he attempted to stop his cousin Tryson, from performing his late father’s songs.

Nadine Brown, the widow of the renowned guitarist and singer Andy Brown, is fighting attempts by the Brown family to stop bar from her late husband’s musical legacy. - Entertainment Writer