By S.K Nkulah.
Harare, Zimbabwe-(News of the South) -Two decades of entertaining fans with groups such as the Crucial Mix Band with big names such as Major E,Trevor Hall and Junior Banton,Start Time crew, producers such as Delanie Makhalima, Plaxedes Wenyika, Potatoe,Roy and Royce and an array of other artist during the Urban grove era and still been touted as one of the most underrated dancehall, reggae artist in Zimbabwe.
The phoenix has now rised from the ashes to claim his spot as the pioneer and godfather of the dancehall and reggae genre in Zimbabwe by releasing his 3rd album entitled, “King Of Dancehall” which has 21 tracks.
Explaining to News of the South why he has only released 3 albums in 2 decades of being in the music industry,Tavona Kevin Padoro (Jah Bless) attributed this to his “intellectual family” and the scarcity of recording studios back in the mid 90’s.
“I was coming from an intellectual background, so my family was fighting against the idea of me talking music as career. So in the long run this helped me in furthering my studies as i acquired a Diploma in accounting and also post graduate degree in management for executives at the University of Zimbabwe. However since music is a talent that is in me,i had to do it concurrently with my education.”
In 2002 Jah Bless released the song “dada nerudzi rwako” produced by Delanie Makhalima, which did well on the charts by then Radio 3(power FM).Since then Jah Bless has not looked back nor stopped composing emaculate music. He has since come up with albums such as “The Entertainer”, “Ghetto Happiness”,with hit songs “entertainer” and “ndouya ikoko” and his latest project, the album “King of Dancehall.”
“My current album, i have distributed it to all local radio stations. Many fans are responding well to the album during my interviews on radio,but the challenge i am facing right now is that most radio are not playing the album for unknown agendas, whilst this album is the most beautifull craft you can ever come across with at this current juncture.I am starting to believe, actually i have concluded that these radio dj’s need to be paid at times for them to play your music.This is the sole reason i have released the album early 2017,so that they(radio dj’s and promoters) do not frustrate me like they did with my past albums.By the end of the year they would have embraced my music,album and will be left with no reason to doubt me as good music speaks for itself.”
Contrary to that, Jah Bless is very thankfull to the local broadcaster ZBC TV, as it has done more justice to him by providing adequate air play for his videos and also a host of interviews to promote his music.
Just like any other budding promising artist,Jah Bless has had his fair share of fruststrations with promoters and other already established artists in the industry.
“People are more casual when the music industry is concerned in Zimbabwe. The exposure i got from the cooperate world at G.M.B has helped me to embrace and execute music in a very professional manner. The so called big artist and promoters will be working so hard to sideline and sabotage,however a major dancehall artist has already reached out to me for a collaboration.”
According to Jah Bless, the naming of his album “King of Dancehall” is not controversial or aiming to dethrone anyone but this is purely “for the betterment of music”On the current album he has worked with 11 different producers from different recording studiods consisting of Oskid and P.T.K from Heart beat records.The album consists of 21 tracks with songs such as” way maker ” by Sinach on a conscious reggae vibe, “Tendai””,”Muchurch”, “Ndinamatire”, “Tisu taita party”, “Ndakagumbura amai”” and “Zimbabwe” which is mostly comercial as it promotes local tourism. Jah Bless also expects to assemble a band soon so as to perfect his craft.
Tavona Kevin Padoro (Jah Bless) connects on many dimensions with the Rastafarian beliefs and community through his music and lifestyle as it has taught him to be militant and fight for wat is his.He has helped in the setting up of the Rastafarian shrines like Chaminuka in Chitungwiza, Madzimbabwe in Glenorah,went back to Kweke where he was born to set up the Monomutapa Shrine. Jah Bless is also the first National Treasurer of The National Rastafarian Council of Zimbabwe.
Only if poetic justice would prevail and the heavens will smile on the humble, and probably the most educated Zimbabwean, Reggae artist, Jah Bless and he gets adequate air play,shows and exposure what would only be left for is to break the international scene and flourish.
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