The Demise Of Gramma Dealt Shuramurove’s BP Album A Blow

Chenjerai Maviki popularly known as Shuramurove has an interesting description of how peculiar his journey was. When he thought his discovery had come through by signing with Gramma Records is the time operations became a challenge due to change of ownership.

Shuramurove grew to become a singer back in the Town of Mhangura through his mother who was an ardent Salvation Army member. Before every night rest she led him in song and prayer. This developed singing techniques in Shuramurove. Also back then Mhangura was lively. The mine was still functioning and the authorities bankrolled their workers and families’ entertainment.

Shuramurove attended some of the shows. Oliver Mtukudzi, Thomas Mapfumo, L Dembo, Safiriyo Madzikatire and Jairos Jiri are some of the bands that were routinely hired to entertain the Mine population of Mhangura. This inspired Shuramurove a lot.

In 1987 Shuramurove met Admire Kasenga who together with other domestic gardeners practiced as a makeshift band. Shuramurove developed an interest and he went on to form his own band in Guruve Kujeta Super Heroes which was short-lived though due to lack of resources. Its so painful that Admire Kasenga passed on after plans had already been decided to do a song together with Shuramurove.

Shuramurove settled in Norton on professional endeavours, he took music as a part time job. He formed Shuramurove The Rain Birds. This name rose from Shuramurove’s rural experiences with the bird. His first recording was in 2003 at Day Studios owned by Admire Kasi in Highlands. Mathias Mataga engineered on the album Ndichamuti Ndiyani

Shuramurove contracted Gramma Records for distribution and marketing on his debut album. The success of the album led to the signing of Shuramurove in 2005 with Gramma but his album BP never saw light of day as that is the time Gramma changed ownership. His data was lost as there was chaos due to the changeover. Shuramurove did not lose heart and he recorded a single called Ella which ZTV chose for the song of the week when it was released.

In 2017 Shuramurove recorded an album African Agenda in which he featured Leonard Zhakata in one of the songs Africa. Shuramurove is preparing another album he intends to drop anytime this year. The Covid 19 lockdowns have drawn back his plans but he is grateful he is being spared. Shuramurove urged young people in music to remain hopeful of opportunities as they will finally come if they work hard.

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