“I worked undercover until late 1999, when I was sniffed by Zanu (PF), who had suddenly become very hostile towards journalists and chased foreign media out of Zimbabwe,” he recounted in a recent interview.
“But that was not before I had played my part in reporting the news as it happened and causing the international community to talk and act on it. A lot was happening that, despite the authorities’ attempts and wishes, could not be left to continue and I really enjoyed being part of the exposure mechanism. It was a very dangerous and life-threatening activity, but one I had no qualms in carrying out. Even today, more than a decade later, I still do not regret ever doing it and I would still do it again.”
When the onslaught against journalists began, Ndlovu (36) fled with a host of other scribes, opting to seek political sanctuary in New Zealand. “I lived in New Zealand for six months, before I decided to come to South Africa and start a new life in a social environment that was almost similar to that of home,” he said.
Life was not easy when he first arrived. He started by doing general work for a construction firm in Johannesburg.
“I was a foreigner hounded into this country without anything but a small bag in his possession, so I had no choice,” said the Binga-born man. “However, since photography has always been in my blood, I spent most of my spare time taking photos to supplement the money from my day job.”
He saved money to buy photographic equipment and then quit his job to become a fulltime photographer. He became friends with a gifted Zimbabwean rhumba music group, Tsheba Boys, whom he later successfully encouraged to record an album.
“I could see that they had a lot of talent, yet they did not have the courage to go to the studio for fear that they would not be appreciated by the public. So when I promised to be their marketing manager, they agreed,” said Ndlovu.
“After the release of the group’s debut album, I approached music retailers, who refused to take the CD, demanding that I register a company through which to deal with them. I opened that company in 2008.”
This heralded the birth of Makholwa Productions, which has produced DVDs for various Zimbabwean and South African musicians and also marketed their music across borders.
“I have worked with many groups and all of them have gained fame from the relationship,” added Ndlovu, who uses the name he inherited from his paternal grandfather for the company’s name.
“We shoot, edit and market videos for those artists who do not work with any music publishers. For those who are signed with some music publishers, we only produce the high quality videos and release the master copy to them. My biggest wish now is to become one of the most recognisable brands in terms of video production. I am inspired by my love for both photography and music and would like to see more and more Zimbabwean artists, who lack the right platform to land deals here, coming forward to take this opportunity.”
Recently, Makholwa Productions opened a music promotions branch, from which budding rhumba group, Bakalanga, has been the first beneficiary by signing up for shows, some of which were sold out. “Plans are underway for a big show in Binga mid-year, where one of the groups under our stable will share the stage with celebrated sungura musician, Nicholas Zacharia,” added the company’s director.
“The show will be at the Ziyakama business centre on 5 June. We have already reached an agreement with Zacharia, a sungura legend and also one of the best musicians ever produced in Zimbabwe.”
Post published in: Africa News