1. He was not always known as Majaivana.The pride of Bulawayo was born Lovemore Tshuma but during the formative years of his career he dazzled fans with deft footwork and suave dancing skills earning himself the nickname Majaivana.Majaivana was of course derived from the American equivalent to dance which is Jive.Is it not bitter sweet that all of Majaivana's retirement years have been spent in that same America?
2. Ask anybody from the City Of Kings who the greatest musician of all time from Bulawayo is and the answer is none other than Lovemore Majaivana.However for Majaivana Bulawayo was not always home.The Umoya wami hitmaker was born in the Midlands capital of Gweru then known as Gwelo on the 14th of December 1954.He would later relocate to Bulawayo at age four alongside his father who was a church minister.
3. The critically acclaimed living legend once worked as a milkman.In the early 1980s Lovemore was part of an outfit known as Jobs Combination alongside Fanyana Dube.At some point he was reportedly fired by the nightclub owner who financed the group.He got work for a short period as a milk salesman for Dairyboard Zimbabwe.His hiatus from music was shortlived and he soon linked up with his brother Anderson and other talented musicians to form The Zulu Band an outfit he worked with up until he hung his dance shoes and rich baritone voice on that retirement shelf we loathe so much.
4. In a different era Majaivana's family could have been the Jacksons.Music is a staple in his family tree considering that his brother Anderson was in his band,his father used to sing at church and his mother was the leader of the church choir.His mother MaNyathi influenced his music so much word has it she penned some of his songs alongside her young sister and all Majee had to do was touch them up a little and add modern instrumentation to them.His two sons Derick Sipho Majaivana (for the reader frowning we dont get into family business please) and Randal have all tried their hand at music but the road has not been as easy for them.
5. Lovemore Majaivana has not set foot in Zimbabwe for close to two decades.Petitions have been drawn,peers have reached out and fans have begged the musical gods to reason with Majaivana to change his mind while blaring his hits and sipping thick,creamy ingwebu beer but the man has been unrelenting.The Bulawayo powerhouse who left Zimbabwe circa 2001 has been deaf to all cries for him to return home for one last album or one last show.At least he left a large discography and The Chronicle occasionally prints April Fools pranks of his return,that should heal our hearts somewhat right?
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