Lovemore Majaivana

Infobox musical artist


Name = Lovemore Majaivana
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Lovemore Tshuma
Alias = Lovemore Majaivana
Born = birth date and age|1954|12|14
Gweru, Zimbabwe
Instrument = Vocals
Guitar
Multi-instruments
Genre = Pop
Occupation = Singer-songwriter
Dancer
Years_active = 1974–2001
Label = ZMC
Associated_acts = The Zulu Band
Jobs Combination

Lovemore "Majaivana" Tshuma (born 1954), commonly known as Lovemore Majaivana is a Zimbabwean musician, arguably the most popular Ndebele singer, and by far the most prominent to have ever came out of Bulawayo. He earned the faux surname 'Majaivana' (which means good dancer) for his exceptional dancing.

Biography

1954–1974: Early life and career

Majaivana became involved in music through the church his father was a minister of, by singing in the choir. His mother taught him lots of traditional songs. When he was 15, he played drums in a band that became quite popular in his home district of Bulawayo. He went to Harare, shifted gears and took up singing, performing material by such Western artists as Tom Jones and Elvis Presley on the hotel and nightclub circuit. In 1974, he returned to Bulawayo to perform with the Marisha Band.

1974 - Early 80s

After playing in Bulawayo for four years, he went back to Harare and teamed up with blind singer Fanyana Dube to form their own band, Jobs Combination, which performed various popular musical idioms. They had several successful singles early on, and their debut album, Isitimela, was a big seller. Despite all this, the band broke up shortly thereafter, and Majaivana sang with the Real Sounds for about two months.

1980s Popularity

The turning point in his career came when he joined the Zulus, a band from Victoria Falls which featured two of his brothers. Finally having a stable base from which to work, Majaivana and his band released an album of traditional folk songs, Salanini Zinini, that he and his brothers had learned from their mother in 1984. From then, he progressed completely away from his former Western influences, and his popularity steadily grew especially in Ndebele speaking Matebeleland and Bulawayo in particular. His first international album was released in 1990.

Discography

Albums

* Isitimela
* Salanini Zinini
* Jazi Manikiniki
* The Best of Lovemore Majaivana
* Isono Sami
* Ezilodumo Zakamajee

External links

* [http://www.embargo.ca/zim/artists/bios/lmajai/index.htm Brief biography]
* [http://www.inkundla.net/ingoma/majee/majee.htm Interview with Inkundla.net]
* [http://www.answers.com/topic/lovemore-majaivana answers.com Lovemore Majaivana page]