Over two decades into his career, Roki is not showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon. The Zimbabwean contemporary musician who has tapped into acting and was a contestant on Big Brother Africa 7 has made a name for himself as a gifted songwriter and exceptional performer. The urban grooves star has won many prestigious awards over the years including ‘Best Video of the Year’ and ‘Song of the Year’ for his undying 2007 hit Chidzoka. He holds the record as the fastest Zimbabwean musician to hit 1 million views on YouTube (he achieved this in a week) with his 2021 hit song Uchandifunga.
Poppulse caught up with Roki to get to know a little more about him:
What first got you into music?
I first got into music because I came from a family where my uncle, my dad’s little brother was a drummer in a popular band from Zimbabwe or one of the international bands from Zimbabwe known as the Pundu Boys. That’s one of the only bands in Zimbabwe or the only band to do two world tours, so I had a lot to look up to. So, what I consider a mentor would be a man like him because I have always got someone to look up to, I still haven’t done two world tours like they did which is pretty big for me. I’m still trying to reach that level.
If you could collab with anyone in the world, who would it be?
It would have to be Wizkid or Simi or Adekunle Gold or Burna Boy and any of the big guys that are doing it big in representing Africa on a big scale or even some of the guys we haven’t heard in a while, P-Square, D’banj, Tiwa Savage, Don Jazzy. Some big South African artists Oscar Warona, Black Coffee. With guys like that I feel the collaboration would really fulfil my artistry.
Do you have anyone you consider a mentor? How has that helped you in the music industry?
My uncle is one of my greatest mentors. When I look up at his career, he was involved in a Zimbabwean band that is one of the only ones to do two world tours and I still feel like I have a lot to achieve, In fact, I know I have a lot to achieve. I always have something to look up to in case I get big-headed.
Tell us more about your latest single, who did you work with?
For my latest single which came from Passion Java Records sponsored by the man of Jah Passion Java, I worked with Mr Brown SA from the band Mungo Africa and Leon Lee of the Mang’dakiwe fame and the video was worked on by Mr Kyle White TV.
What do you want people to take away from your latest single?
Internet bullying is a thing that actually hurts lives in a real way like a gun would if it shoots a young youth and it takes away this youth from the mother, wife, widowed somebody, you know gunshot as in screenshot so people on social media should be responsible.
What would you be doing right now if it wasn’t for your music career?
If it wasn’t for my music career, I would be a traditional rural chief and I would also be a pastor, just praying for different people and maybe teaching art studies because I love to do the fine arts and maybe teaching a bit of history because those are the subjects that I love.
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
I do believe that since the mp3 was released, music has become more accessible in all places at all times. However, a lot of structures of old have sort of crumpled and it left a lot of people jobless and without a clue on how to make all of this become financially lucrative. So, it has a plus and a minus, new internet, mainly music is now accessible anywhere, any person can have any song but it’s going to be difficult to make anyone pay for it in some places.
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
I would try to make it more of an even playing field all across the world, I believe YouTube is going as far as it should but should do more to expose higher forms of talent within many different places where a lot of things never heard of or seen but are brilliant and would make world wide standard entertainment. So, if I could change anything it would be that we need more of the unknowns or the unsighted or the unseen on the world market.
What is your favourite song to perform?
My favourite song to perform is Screenshot igunshot and Patati Patata
How has your journey been in the industry?
My journey has been a very blessed one. I feel that I have always been walking with grace. I believe that things have been good for me, other people have had it worse than me.
What’s next for you?
We are trying to go and take our songs and our style to more places in Southern Africa, southern region, Eastern Africa, northern Africa as well as the Arab so that we can try and tour the second world and the first world. We are really trying for World tours, global domination so the road is long.