ZIMDANCEHALL star Jah Signal recently caused a stir on social media when a video went viral of him allegedly gifting his wife – who has reportedly just given birth – a brand new Range Rover worth US$300,000 as a “push gift”.
It set tongues wagging immediately.
It also sparked intense controversy and speculation.
While one blogger described it as a “warm” gesture, others wondered if Jah Signal had enough money to spoil his wife with such an expensive car.
It seems that flaunting one’s wealth – whether real or imagined – has become a new phenomenon in the entertainment industry, especially in the music industry.
In addition to showing off their cars, some artists share photos of themselves relaxing on beds while holding wads of cash.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail Society, Jah Signal, whose real name is Nicodemus Mutiz, insisted he had the money to afford a “flashy lifestyle”.
“A lot of people are misinformed and think that musicians’ livelihood is live performances and record sales – which is not the case,” he said. “I monetize my music and get the majority of my revenue stream from endorsements.
He claimed that the real figure he spent on new wheels was US$80,000. He added that global tours and social media are good sources of income.
But Jah Signal isn’t the only one claiming to be comfortable.
The Sunday Mail Society recently visited Simon Mutambi – the Singora music star who fronts the band Cobra Kings – at his farm in Beatrice.
Although he does not show off his wealth, the musician owns a large house in Beatrice and a fleet of 12 cars, including a Mercedes-Benz.
He also has 16 band members on his payroll.
“The money is not in Harare, it is in the mining and agricultural areas,” he added.
He claims he can make up to $12,000 in three days during a successful month.
“On Friday we can bid, for example, in Zvishavane and earn up to US$3,000. On Saturday, we can bid, for example, in Mberengwa and earn US$4,000. On Sunday, we can bid in Shurugwi, where we can get US$4,000.”
Mutambi is not the only one who claims to be rolling in dough.
Zimdancehall star Enzo Ishall (Stephen Mamahari) recently announced to the world that he has signed a contract with a local independent contractor that he says will earn him $12,000 a month.
Aside from the $12,000, the musician will also enjoy other perks like cars and vacation packages.
The Muso are reportedly renting an entire house in the leafy Madukero suburb of Harare.
The likes of Jah Prayza, Holly Ten and Alec Macheso are some of the musicians who are said to be earning “a lot of money”.
Killer T (born Kelvin Kusikwenyu) is also among these “rich” musicians.
The Mbare-born artist, who resides in the medium-density suburb of Aspendale, Harare, is said to own several houses and a fleet of cars, which includes a Toyota Fortuner and a Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Through the Killer T Foundation, he recently donated groceries to several retirement homes in Harare and Chitungwiza.
“A lot of people still think that getting a formal education is the only way to have a decent life. That’s not true. We have a lot of examples of wealthy local musicians,” Keller T said.
The other side of the coin
But there are many examples of musicians who have recently hit rock bottom and had to scream for help.
Patrick Mukwamba, Paradzai Messi and Taruvinga ‘Sugar Sugar’ Manjukuta are part of the struggling group.
Patrick Mukwamba now makes a living by selling, while Sugar Sugar once resorted to artisanal mining.
Mukwamba even regrets the time he “wasted” as a musician.
But skeptics are convinced that most local musicians are just pretending to be so.
Nimrod Ndlovu, an arts critic, said most musicians live a fake life by claiming to be rich, and described some of them as “a bunch of fake products”.
“From my point of view, I don’t think the majority of local musicians can afford the lifestyle they are trying to portray. I doubt Jah Signal can have the financial muscle to acquire such a top-of-the-line vehicle,” Ndlovu said.
He added that most musicians do not have companies that would qualify them to live a luxurious life.
However, music promoter Barston “Chibaz” Chimbudza believes that local musicians are able to make a good living through their talents.
“The local music industry is already booming. In fact, more and more fans are attending live shows. Some of the most popular musicians are earning large sums of money either through live shows or endorsements,” he said.
He claims that the fact that high-profile international musicians such as Kofi Olomide often come to perform in this country means that promoters are able to pay competitive rates.
“Although some musicians pretend to be living a good life, some of their counterparts are actually living the lavish lives they portray on social media platforms,” Chimbudza added.
According to music producer Clive “Mono” Mukondo, local musicians can make money by entertaining people.
In his book Is There Money in Zimbabwe’s Music Industry, published in 2022, Mukundo argues that musicians who perform live outside Harare are able to make more money than those who always focus on the capital.
“Some musicians have discovered they can make money in areas outside Harare. They are actually making a decent living,” Mukundo wrote Sunday May.to
