Busy Signal wants land in Zimbabwe

By Andrew Moyo

It is a sunny Friday afternoon and a large number of music fans that are in a luminous mood are gathered at the Harare International Airport arrivals section.

The fans are waiting patiently for one of the biggest dancehall-reggae artistes in the world who is jetting into the country for his maiden show.

Smartphones and cameras are on the ready and with the announcement that the star is about to make his way out of the terminal – a stampede ensues, giving security a hard time controlling the crowd closing in on the singer, hoping to get a glimpse of him.

Such was the scene at the airport when Busy Signal flew into the country ahead of his show last weekend.

Signal, also known as Reanno Gordon, is loved by many despite his bad boy tag. He has criminal records in numerous countries including the USA and Trinidad and Tobago.

But despite numerous brushes with the law, the artiste proved that he has a huge following in Zimbabwe from the moment he touched down to the day of the show and then after.

At his arrival at the airport, fans did not get to see much of him as the superstar was quickly whisked away in a blue Porsche Cayenne, herding to Mbare for a scheduled ghetto tour.

The convoy was not hard to miss as it comprised several top of the range cars, two small buses packed with fans and a kombi that had speakers on the roof, belting out Signal’s music. Business came to a standstill at Magaba in Mbare as people downed their tools to see the superstar who had flown all the way from the Caribbean Islands.

Movement became difficult at Matapi flats where several local Zim dancehall artistes had gathered at Chillspot Records, a traditional stopover for most visiting Jamaican artistes.

The musician’s convoy was swarmed by the large crowd that was shouting his name and trying to peep through the tinted windows of his ride. Even as the convoy started moving again, many people “escorted” it, running by the roadside, screaming, whistling and asking the artiste to disembark and greet them; but that could not happen for security reasons.

From Mbare, the tour headed to Highfield where again security had to work overtime to control the mob as the Jamaican systematically opened his window to fist-bump several lucky fans.

From the ghetto tour, Signal was taken to the Rainbow Towers where he was checked in along with his band. Getting a comment from the artiste was difficult but The Sunday Mail Leisure managed to have a chat with him at the hotel and he seemed to be overwhelmed with the reception he had received since landing.

“I think everybody is nice here because I have received a very warm welcome. This is our motherland, you are our brothers and sisters and compared to other African countries, this is a totally different vibe, which reminds me of back home in Jamaica,” said Signal.

Having spent less than two hours in the capital, the “Brighter Days” hit-maker had fallen in love with the country already and said he would become a resident if possible. Busy said he even wanted to formally communicate with the President with the intention of securing land in Zimbabwe.

“I am probably going to check in with the President, formally, and maybe get some land here. I always like to travel, see different places and different things but it’s nice here and this is the origin so I don’t see why I should not come and stay here,” said Busy Signal.

Some of the Jamaican dancehall artistes who have been to Zimbabwe in the past have collaborated with local acts and Signal said that he did not have a problem doing the same as long as the artistes met his standards.

“I would be more than happy to work with one or even more artistes as long as their music is up to the standard of what I am doing and the level of Turf Music.

“When I got to the airport I just went straight to the people so I am yet to listen to the local artistes’ music since it’s my first time here but I am sure I will listen to some before I leave,” he said.

He hit the stage to deafening sounds similar to those made by Dynamos Football Club fans whenever their team scores, especially at Rufaro Stadium. His band was exceptional and belting out hit after hit, he managed to pull off a memorable performance.

Some of the hits that proved popular with fans include “One More Night”, “Reggae Music Again”, “Watch Out for This”, “Come Over” and “Dreams of Brighter Days”, among others.

Among the local acts who performed, Dhadza D and Jah Prayzah had a good day in office as they managed to pull off extraordinary performances while Seh Calaz, Soul Jah Love and Killer T failed to live up to their billing.

Winky D did not perform at the show despite having been billed to do so. Reports doing rounds are that the Kambuzuma born and bred chanter’s manager Jonathan Banda found himself at odds with law enforcement agents resulting in Winky D aborting his scheduled act in solidarity with his comrade. The Sunday Mail