From a graduate to become a musician: Mebo hit maker Obert Chari
TRADITIONAL Gospel and Sungura chanter Obert Chari (OB) – who shot to fame after releasing his hit song Mebo Mebo, continues to rise.
Having started off after graduating at Midlands State University (MSU) he then formed the ZCC Hakireni Stars choir, he is now one of the topmost Gospel musicians in the country. He speaks to our Arts & Entertainment Journalist (PM)
Prince Meke.
PM: Who is Orbert Chari and how did he rise to fame?
OC: I was born in 22 July sorry l won’t share my age and grew up in Chegutu my hometown, and did my education in Gweru until l graduated with an Honors Degree in African Languages and Culture before relocating to Harare in 2021. I sang with the ZCC Chegutu Hakireni Stars choir and we recorded our first album “Ngoma yaBaba” in 2012. That is where l started to use not only gospel lyrics but social commentary so as to reach more clientele. I never looked for job opportunities as l followed my singing calling which emanated at a younger age of 16. In 2011, that’s when my church members and friends encouraged me to be a professional musician.
PM: Usually, when artistes go to perform on big stages, some rowdy fans have a tendency of throwing missiles at them. Has that happened to you?
OC: It has never happened to me mybe because lam still yet to reach more live perfomances, but l have seen negetive criticism. Sometimes it’s not hatred, but it will be constructive criticism. I have realised that if you have critics in your career, that alone will motivate you to scale greater heights. Being a musician is a tough journey, so one has to keep their head high.
PM: You had a childhood dream of being a graduate and aim a professional career. Why did you shift to music?
OC: I used to tell my parents that l would like to graduate and have a professional job so as to look after them and my family. But as you grow tables will shift, and I opted to become a musician full time. I have talent with my voice which is paying me to survive with my family. At our church we work with prophets so they prophecied that using my voice will bring money on the table and doing this will make you encourage the nation to believe and pray to God as what my Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi encourages us to do.
PM: People including your fans say you and Prince Chigwida of “Ndireverere ndipone” song you are the Jah Prayzah and Winky D of Zion Christian Church music how do you see your self with him? There were social media rumours that you dont see eye to eye. Is that true?
OC: The fans can judge us the way they want to potray beacuse thats part of music. Me and Chigwida we are true friends and have always been in good books although we dont have a song together. Yes, we are both in the same profession aiming to succeed higher but he is on his lane and lam on my lane. Some people can initiate hatred where there is no hatred.
PM: Some fans, both those inside and outside your church, loved the song Mebo Mebo what motivated you to sing such song?
OC: Mebo Mebo is a unique song that l paid particular attention basing from my research of ZCC songs. I followed icons like Lucky Chikuwa and Mudhara Bhosvo and decided to write a love song playing and mixing guitar with piano to make the sound more modern as it sounded. Even now l acknowledge the song hold a strong significance in our society as it teaches that love doesn’t know what the person has in life but what you make hold together.
PM: Do you perform with a full band?
OC: Yes, it’s called Hakireni Stars.
PM: Which international artistes do you wish to do collabos with?
OC: Iam open to work with every artist that’s why lam a musician. We can craft a song that suits our audience especially when working with other fellow artists. My role models are Aleck Macheso, Winky D, Simon Chopper Chimbetu and Jah Prayzah.
PM: On your social media post you mentioned that in July you will release an album. What should we expect?
OC: lam working so hard on this album as l worked with Jah Prayzah and Leonard Zhakata on different songs. Fans should expect more as l will bring what majority will vibe to. There is something surprising on the album stay tuned.
PM: Since you are married, how do you handle female fans that throw themselves at you?
OC: Once you are a celeb this happens a lot l think many can agree to such. Married woman and single girls throw themselves at me, but I just treat them as my mothers and sisters because some of them come with a hidden agenda, targeted at tarnishing my image.
PM: How do you handle your celebrity status?
OC: To be honest being a celebrity is something difficult. Almost a lot of things you do will not be private although we are trying to walk in the shoes of celebrities.
PM: Is music paying you enough to live on or you have other sources of income?
OC: Music is paying, I don’t want to lie thats why l didn’t looked for a job because music is my profession. Ithank God for that because I am where I am today because of music. May other promoters engage us so as to keep Obert Chari music vibrant.
PM: How do your fans access your music?
OC: They do so through my YouTube channel, Tik Tok, Facebook, Instagram, and my WhatsApp groups.
PM: Are you still recording in Chegutu?
OC: I record anywhere (as long as there is a studio available). In Chegutu, there is Mambo Hermas, and I record some of my songs there. I have also recorded with a lot of household producers named Mambo Hermas, Makumbe Production, Rodin, Cymblex pro and famous Gweru producer DJ Tamuka on the upcoming album.
PM: Your parting shot?
OB: My Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi of Zion Christian Church teaches me that where ever you go leave a mark that you represent so as people to follow you. I will also take this opportunity to thank my fans who have supported me right from the start. All those who wish to see me come to ZCC conferences will perform live and for free.
