PRINCE Kudakwashe Musarurwa (Known as Prince) is a modern Afro-Jazz musician, with a sweet unique voice that quenches the ears. He has done three Albums Kurarama, Garamuberevere, and with his latest offering Gogodera. The truth about:Prince Kudakwashe Musarurwa Home Town: Harare Current City: Harare Age: 26 (born December 6, 1988) Marital Status & Children: In a relationship Genre: Afro Jazz How did your career start, and where are you projecting yourself with all the talent currently coming out of Zimbabwe? My music career is steeped in my family roots, starting with my uncle August Musarurwa, whom composed the song Skokiaan first released in 1947 (in the then Rhodesia) and climbed to the US Charts to number 17 in the 1954. It went on to be redone by the great Louis Armstrong. Skokiaan is the roots of Afro jazz in Zimbabwe. It succeeded Marabi & Kwela - a type of township music, which was an underground musical culture, that had a link to Americanjazz, ragtime and blues, with roots deep in the African tradition. So I can proudly say music (Afro Jazz) runs in blood. And with all this rich music tradition and culture that makes up my background I can safely say the yardstick is quality because the environment demands excellence, “naturally I’m expected to improve day in day out”. What do you consider your greatest musical strength? My stage performance and vocal power, my vocal power is something that drives me and also the well natured lyrics (music which can relate to real life situations). Do you write your own songs? If so what inspires you? Yes I do write my own songs, I’m much inspired by the everyday life, what we see and experience from day to day What does Gogodera mean? Gogodera is a wild bird that lives in the forest like other birds. It is a unique bird, it does not build a nest from grass and twigs like other birds, it drills a tree trunk for shelter. Why call the song Gogodera? I believe in creation, culture and a team ethos, It is said the two shall leave their families and shall become together as one. In order to become one we’ve got to become a team, and for us to be a successful team there’s got to be a leader, and that’s me The Man. In the household there’s a natural order of things, where the man is the head of the household, the team leader. Gogodera is the woman who doesn’t look at things the way I do creation, culture, team ethos. She wants to do things differently; different to the norm, different to the natural order of things (Ndiyani Jongwe pamusha pano?) If someone picks your CD from a record bar for the first time, what should they expect? They should expect to hear mature music but at the same time I am much humbled that my music can be listened to by all age groups. My music has cultural and traditional values at its heart but at the same time it does not lose perspective of the modern times we now live in. I carry a message to society as a whole, to value our culture, to love and respect one another. Love is a rare treasure, it not an easily accessible commodity that can be picked up at the market, but something special (Saka rudo ngarukosheswe). What is your favourite musical instrument? I can play mbira, hosho, acoustic guitar, but I can honestly say the acoustic guitar, It brings back memories of when I was young playing with my father’s acoustic guitar. Do you have a day job? My music is my day to day job and I’m happy that my work is growing. Which schools did you attend? Hatfield primary school, Church hill Boys High and Zimbabwe College of Music. What is your guiding philosophy? I believe that the sky is not the limit, there exist limitless opportunities in every industry. Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier. Which song and by any other artist holds special memories for you? Oliver Mtukudzi munondipisa manyemwe and for real zvinondipasa manyemwe with the support I’m getting from my fellow Zimbabweans. How do you spend your free time? I do spend much of my time perfecting my art, doing rehearsals, writing my music, spending time with my family as well as designing my own clothes. What is your definition of love? Friends can help each other. A true friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself - and especially to feel. Or, not feel. Whatever you happen to be feeling at the moment is fine with them. That's what real love amounts to - letting a person be what he or she really is. Do you have any Zimbabwean role models and who is your international role model? In Zimbabwe, Oliver Mtukudzi and the late Chiwoniso Maraire. Internationally, Salif Keita and Ringo. How do you manage emotional situations in your life? If your emotional abilities aren't in hand, if you don't have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can't have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Dream Big – Work Hard. You can do anything you put your mind to, it only requires, desire, faith and persistence. So in five years the sky is the limit.