MEET ALLANAH FROM ZENGEZA

Marriage almost ruined her career but reggae music saved it

By Tawanda Matanhire

From as early as kindergarten, music had begun to run through her veins.
While other kids her age spoke of being pilots, doctors or teachers when asked in class, a tiny Nyaradzo Machivenyika, better known by her stage name Allanah, already knew she wanted to be a singer.
Born and bred in Zengeza, Chitungwiza, Allanah’s passion for music has seen her tirelessly work to perfect her art – and it is beginning to pay off.
Currently, she is one of the most sought-after female performers in Zimbabwe after a string of chart-topping collaborations and covers that have endeared her with music lovers.
In an interview with Nhau, she revealed that she will be unleashing more collaborations before the year folds.
“This year was a year of collaborations for me and they paid off quite well. I do appreciate working with others, I will be releasing more collaborations,” she said.
She is set to release a single featuring Gina Marina from Chillspot and also hinted on a song with Jah Signal before New Year.
Allanah, who will be among the headline acts at the second edition of Switch On to be held at Milton Park Bowling Club tomorrow, promised to “deliver”.
“I always deliver and I’m confident that Poptain and I will blow music fans away with the new act that we have put together for our collaboration. It is going to be fire-fire tomorrow. I wouldn’t miss it for anything,” said the Fadza Mutengi singer, adding, “For those that will see me perform for the last time this year – they should consider this my Christmas present for them.”
Talking of Christmas; what does Allanah have planned for her fans, family and even herself?
“I’m not sure what I will be up to. I don’t usually plan what to do on the day so I will just wait for the day to come and spend it the best way possible,” she said with a chuckle.
“Last year I had a show on Christmas, so I think maybe ‘tenge tichifadzawo vatengi and the diasporians’.
“And definitely we will be with family, whatever happens family is more important, so we get to be together on the day.”
And how does this beauty with a heavenly voice handle fame, particularly male fans who sometimes go overboard?
“A lot of people don’t know me when I walk down the street, they only know my songs, which makes it easier for me it terms of handling any pressure if there is pressure to talk about,” she said.
“People know my voice but they do not know the person behind the voice. I’ve done a lot of songs as a backing vocalist but people didn’t know it was me. And I still do (backing vocals) for many artists.”
While she has been singing from a tender age, Allanah told Nhau that the year 2014, when she had her first studio experience, was when her professional career began to take off, albeit with many challenges.
She found a spot in the reggae-dancehall genre when she recorded the single, Give Glory, under Raw Music record label and a couple of other songs that didn’t do so well until she ditched reggae for hip-hop.
Hip-hop was yet another experience that made her gain exposure in the music circles with one song, Zvese Bhoo, becoming a fan favourite.
She abandon music temporarily after she got married. And her experiences in marriage, and the longing to get back into the studio, were to set her on a new path which led the songstress to pinnacle of urban music, upon her return.
She came back to the music business as a backing vocalist and after meeting Papa Lodza, a music producer who encouraged her to work on reviving her reggae music, she never looked back.
To date, she is still doing reggae sessions under Papa Lodza. For those that frequent her shows – they know that her vocal abilities cannot be ignored.
This she proved by taking on the challenge of remixing a hit song, Mebo by Obert Chari.
The Mebo cover had people asking and wanting to hear more from the songstress. Then when she hooked up with Poptain on Fadza Mutengi, they both had their breakthroughs.
“Poptain has always been a brother and working with him has always been a pleasure. He is a funny guy, so we always get time to laugh which makes it easy for us to work,” she said.
The song became an instant hit and the collaboration was a perfect union.
Allanah, who is making waves with Mude Mude, Ndotenda Ishe and Mabasa, says nothing will stop her now. She is also a hard worker, addicted to music videos. Visuals play a very important role in an artist’s career, and she knows it.
“ I also love things and want to make the best. I make my work appeal to my bosses, the fans, in the best way possible,” she said.
Consistency has been a challenge for many artists who come and go – for Allanah – it has always been her wish that if she gets the spotlight she remains relevant for as long as it takes.
“I thank everyone who has supported me and appreciate your love. I don’t want to end here. I will keep making music and I want to continue making good music that last,” she said. Nhau/Indaba