Matulana ‘steals’ Joe Maseko’s award

Before the dust has settled in the aftermath of the Zimbabwe Music Awards in which three local Bulawayo artistes won each an award, a controversy is brewing over the winner of one of the awards.

Before the dust has settled in the aftermath of the Zimbabwe Music Awards in which three local Bulawayo artistes won each an award, a controversy is brewing over the winner of one of the awards.

Joe-Maseko
Joe-Maseko

It turns out that the desperation for recognition may have clouded the judgment and compromised the integrity of one Obadiah Matulana.

Basking in the afterglow of “winning” an award for the best engineered album of the year, it is now emerging after eyebrows were raised, last week that Matulana entered himself as an engineer for the album Simbazo/Chimbadzo.

The facts on the ground are that he misrepresented. The album’s engineer was the legendary Joe Maseko of the House of Rising Sound in Gwabalanda!

Even the album sleeve indicates as much in the credits. The question arises as to why Matulana decided to steal the thunder from Maseko, a long standing engineer and record producer in Bulawayo.

Many groups and artistes have passed through his studio looking for his golden touch.

The likes of Sandra Ndebele cut their teeth there while Maseko has had clients such as Iyasa, Jeys Marabini, Ishe John Gara, and Velaphi “VG” Gumbo. Add to that the likes of Matulana whose work has been largely engineered by Maseko who in a telephone interview confirmed that he was the winning album’s engineer.

“Look, I don’t want problems with anyone but yes, I engineered the album,” he said.

“I was surprised when I heard that he had entered himself as the album’s engineer and won the award.”

Efforts to contact Matulana by this writer did not yield much as one of his mobile phone numbers went unanswered and the other was picked up by a lady who promised to pass the enquiry.

At the time of going to print a response had not come through. One of Zima’s contact persons, Tafara Mbaya, contacted this writer in response to the first inquiry over the matter.

“Yah, we can confirm that indeed according to the entry form, Matulana entered himself as the engineer for the album,” he said.

“A look through our records, however, exposes that the engineer, according to the CD sleeve supplied by the artiste, is one Joe ‘Pupa’ Maseko.

“We will have to look into correcting that. Right now the chairman is abroad.”

Matulana is a mature musician in Bulawayo who started off as a tshibilika music exponent.

More recently, he has tended to lean more towards a reggae-influenced sound while assuming the moniker Dr Jah Kanindo.

Speaking in the aftermath of Zima “win”, Matulana opined about his many years experience in the music industry. The issue at hand, however, is not about years of experience, but simply about who should have been honoured with the award Matulana took.

The answer is quite simple: Maseko, the one who actually engineered the album.

Other artistes who spoke to Woza Weekend, such as young hip-hop artist Msheznana (Lwazi Skuza) — expressed dismay at the senior musician’s antics.

“You can quote me on this one, what umdala did was wrong,” he said. “Joe Maseko is the godfather of all music here in Bulawayo. Matulana cannot rob Maseko of this award which he clearly deserves. The matter must be fixed by Zima.”

Others on condition of anonymity, placed the blame on Zima’s organisers for failing to do due diligence for the award.

“Why did Zima not spot the anomaly? I blame them for the bungle which has potential to cause enmity,” one artiste said.

In Zima’s defence, one of the spokespersons, Farai Chapotera, has offered in a press report that they are “learning from their mistakes” and promise to bring “bigger and better” awards next year.

Ultimately, Zima organisers despite the spirited and commendable effort in bringing back the awards , must accept ultimate responsibility for the bungle.

International best practice is clear.

The best engineered album credit clearly belongs with the actual engineer for technical sound engineering competence and not the artiste.

The current controversy is a result of Matulana’s desperation for credit and Zima’s bungling of the nomination process.

The media must also take a modicum of blame for failing to spot the anomaly in time and raise dust. Hope remains that justice will be done for Maseko.