The Rise of Tocky Vibes: A Story of Perseverance
By Lance Guma
HARARE – He is only 20 years old but singer Obey Makamure better known as Tocky Vibes has already done enough to suggest he can knock on the door of the competitive Zimdancehall scene and demand a seat at the table.
The Kambuzuma based singer was first spotted at the age of 16 by fellow Zimdancehall artist Winky D at Kambuzuma 1 High School and proceeded to record Tirikumhanya Kunokwira Helicopter a song that gave Winky D’s Controversy a run for its money on radio.
In 2011 Tocky recorded his second song called Vavengi before his parents forced him to quit music. Worried that the music scene was disturbing his studies, Tocky’s parents decided to transfer him to his rural home in Chivi.
He never recorded a song in 2012 and stayed in Chivi until his dad got a farm in Rusape where Tocky was sent to help with cattle rearing.
The young singer made frequent visits to the capital Harare to try and record his music but the main challenge was always the fact that most producers demanded money upfront even though the big artists recorded for free.
Charles “TORRO” Guvamatanga of Torro Entertainment who has been managing the youngster said Tocky “was turned down from studio to studio and almost quit music. Tocky started to live with Admire Peter Chiware his brother in law and he is the one that encouraged him to keep writing more songs.”
“His dad didn’t like that idea of him staying away from the beasts and he sent him back to Rusape and all his hopes of ever becoming an artist had vanished.
“Chiware believed in him and never lost hope and kept reassuring Tocky. He tried to work with all top artists and producers but no one was willing to work with this poor boy from the village and there was no light at the end of the tunnel.”
“One day Tocky told Chiware that he wanted to meet Guspy and the Mafia 19 star agreed to meet him and listened to Tocky’s plight, he vowed to do the best he could. That is the time Tocky recorded Batai Homwe and Zvipande (yet to be released.”
Guspy then introduced Tocky to a producer called Critical who helped him record a lot of songs including KaBabie KePasa Passa. Tocky gained a lot of confidence and moved back to live with Chiware and the family found someone to take care of the cattle.
“He worked on some songs but Chiware was not impressed by the messages in the song and asked Tocky to be himself and sing songs that had deep messages in them. Tocky reluctantly agreed coz he wanted commercial songs that would make people jump and party,” Guvamatanga said.
“He recorded Mhai produced by Dj Fydale at Mdada Studios, a song he jokingly called Chiware’s Sungura song. The song was well received but in the dancehall circles it was criticized.
“From there Tocky himself was inspired to do more songs with positive and uplifting messages, that’s when he released Ngoma Dzonaka and that song was a hit.”
He never stopped from there and released more hit songs like Chii Nemi, Dziripo Hama, Vane Godo, Ndini Ndinorira and the most recent of all Handityi produced by Dj Fydale and Usakande Mapfumo Pasi on Bodyslam Riddim.
Tocky Vibes continues to work hard to improve his music and is currently working under Chiware and Guvamatanga of Torro Entertainment.
Guvamatanga believes Tocky is the “new Marshall Munhumumwe of ZimDancehall” and that the chanter has a special gift.
For booking and any other business contact:
Charles “TORRO” Guvamatanga +447446040030 or email [email protected]
or Admire Peter Chiware +263772637662
