Is Macheso the biggest employer in Zim entertainment industry
ALICK Macheso’s Orchestra Mberikwazvo has 34 members, including three drivers, making the sungura superstar probably the biggest employer on the domestic musical industry.
Macheso is the band leader and CEO of this musical enterprise and his manager, Tich Makamadze, is second in charge on the corporate tree.
In August, Makamadze revealed they had a staff compliment of 32 people, which the sungura superstar take care of.
However, latest figures released by the Orchestra Mberikwazvo camp show that there are 32 people within the band’s structures.
Fifteen of these people are always in the background and they include the eight security members, the finance chief, the digital guru and the three drivers.
One of the drivers serves Macheso, the other one drives the vehicle which carries the band while the third one drives the vehicle which carries the instruments.
There are two sound engineers – Morgan Mapeta and Isheanesu Mikano.
In August, Makahamadze told H-Metro that Macheso was also helping less privileged members of the community.
“We have former band members, and less privileged members of our communities, who are also feeding from the same purse.
“Alick Macheso has been doing a lot in communities when he is off the stage.
“Ukaenda kuChitungwiza kune nzvimbo inonzi kwaMacheso kwaakawanira chikwata cheband nzvimbo dzekugara.
“He wanted all his band members to be landlords instead of being tenants.”
Macheso, who is performing in Gauteng this weekend, calls his group the people’s band.
But how does his big musical family compare with other BIG BANDS in the world?
According to the Guinness World Records, the biggest performing rock band was made up of 953 people when the Beijing Contemporary Music Academy performed in Tianjin, China, on June 16, 2016.
There were 349 singers, 154 guitarists, 151 drummers, 101 bassists, 100 keyboard players and 98 wind instruments.
Carlo Santana’s band had 68 musicians who were a member of the group, at one time or another, during a time in which they sold over 100 million albums.
The Japanese girl group, AKB48, had 72 members, all divided into separate teams, which even enabled them to perform in different places at the same time.
These bands also have had big numbers — Dexy’s Midnight Runners (53 members), Iron Butterfly (59 members), Hawkwind (60 members), The Fall (66 members); The Drifters (67 members); Savoy Brown (69 members); The Waterboys (76 members); Blood Sweat and Tears (183 members).
ORCHESTRA MBERIKWAZVO
ALICK MACHESO — CEO AND OWNER
Tich Makahamadze — HEAD OF MANAGEMENT
Lucky Macheso — DIGITAL
BAND MEMBERS
Drummers — Givemore Chokumanyara, Paul Jnr Mpofu
Chanters — Joe Kasamba, Zhili Mulapi
Guitarists — Francis Charamba, Mike Adelino, Noel Nyazanda, Tafi Nyamunda, Devine Muzenda, Zaka Zaka
Backing Vocalists — Elton Muropa, Wilson Mela, Barnabas Mandipota
Dancers — Charles Chembe, Selemani Mpochi, Shame Chidewo, Alberto Mariya
Security Department — Godwin Gweshe, Willard Muchemwa, Tauro Miti, Alexander Nyandoro, Mugove Chidyausiku, Brian Moyo, Charles Monya, Taurai Monya
Sound Engineers — Morgan Mapeta, Isheanesu Mikana
Finance Department — Jabulani Chimiti
Drivers — Tendai Aliza (Alick Macheso); Bernard Howera (Band Members) John Macheso (Instruments)