Nicholas Zhacharia

Nicholas Zakaria, widely known as Madzibaba, was a prominent Zimbabwean sungura musician whose career spanned several decades.

Born in 1957 at Belgownie Estates in Mazowe, Zakaria died on 11 December. He was regarded as one of the country’s most influential sungura artists. His early musical interest was shaped by life on the farms, where he was exposed to local performance traditions. His father played a box guitar at community gatherings, and by the age of ten Zakaria had learned to play the instrument, despite initial discouragement from his parents.

At 18, he formed his first group, The Green Mangoes, with the late Robson Kaitano, before leaving to work as a storekeeper. In 1980 he established the Vhuka Boys with the assistance of Shepherd Chinyani. Although the group recorded several singles, they struggled to gain prominence against more established acts such as John Chibadura, Thomas Mapfumo and the Bundu Boys.

Zakaria left the Vhuka Boys in 1984 and went on to form the Khiama Boys, the band that would cement his legacy in Zimbabwean music. Its members included Cephas Karushanga, Levison Chakanyuka, Tineyi Chikupo, Alick Macheso, System Tazvida and his wife, Margaret Gweshe. The group released a substantial body of work and rose to compete with leading artists of the era, including Leonard Dembo, James Chimombe and Marshall Munhumumwe.

Over the course of his career, Zakaria released more than 26 albums. His most acclaimed songs include ‘Kubva Kure’, ‘Mabvi Nemagokora’, ‘Shamiso’ and ‘Mabhauwa’, all of which contributed to his enduring influence on the sungura genre.