The ManicaPost
Entertainment Correspondent
MUTARE-BASED solo guitarist, Steve Chikotie, serenaded fans last Friday at the recently launched Friday Karaoke Nights at Wise Owl Motel.Karaoke nights are a form of interactive entertainment where amateurs sing along with recorded music using a microphone. The music is typically an instrumental version of a well-known popular song.
Chikotie’s artistry on the acoustic guitar to strum any song particularly the golden oldies really took a lot of revellers down the memory lane as they danced the night away.
Wise Owl Motel spokesperson, Josh Makaya, said the Friday Karaoke Night was by popular demand after many revellers showed interest in sing along songs during Chikotie’s shows.
“Ever since we started the Friday Jazz Night with Steve Chikotie last month we have had revellers joining him on stage and requesting for songs to sing along. This proved that people want Karaoke and we will give them that,” said Makaya popularly known as Bla Josh.
He said plans to get video equipment for the Karaoke are already in progress.
Typical of Karaoke nights there has been a good share of the good, the bad and the ugly on the microphone, depicting that singing is beyond doubt a trade for the gifted and not meant for all. Nonetheless in the spirit of karaoke, all who took a shot on the microphone were applauded humorously besides hitting a couple of discord notes that could even deafen the deaf.
It was however, Chikotie, who kept the joyous mood throughout the evening strumming popular golden oldies and some of his songs. The Mutare-born and bred solo guitarist who now has five albums to his name has over the years blossomed to become venerated among the country’s best solo guitarist like Rusape-based Steve ‘Dhongi’ Makoni and marabhi music crooner, Kireni Zulu.
On the evening, his version of ‘It’s Cold Outside’ would have made Louis Armstrong smile in his grave as the piece was reminiscent of the master’s style.
While his hit songs, Wega, Ikosore and Marunjeya also proved to be popular among his local fans who sang along and danced the night away.
“I appreciate the support I have been getting at home. I have always wanted to be based in Mutare despite often having a busy schedule touring different cities to perform mostly in hotels for corporate functions,” said Chikotie.
