Soul Jah Love soldiers on, performs on wheelchair

UNDER the weather Zimdancehall chanter, Soul Jah Love defied odds on Friday when he put up a spirited perfomance while seated in a wheelchair at the Zark cigarette launch party at Alexandra Sports Club in Harare.

The Hove Huru hitmaker, who is battling a diabetic foot ulcer after he was involved in a car accident a few months ago, had to be helped to the stage by members of his Conquering Family.Jah Love came to the gig — which was organised by Cavendish Lloyd Zimbabwe in partnership with Simmad Entertainment — with his left leg bandaged and he could not walk, as he awaits further treatment.

He donned a white garment wrapped around the lower part of his body and a white T-shirt.

Upon getting on the stage, a legion of his fans started chanting his name and he quickly put aside the pain to produce an energetic and spirited performance.

Jah Love performed his entire set seated in a wheelchair, receiving sympathy from the fans, who sang along with him.

Despite being wheelchair-bound on the night, the Mbare-bred singer was in top form and at some point appeared to want to jump off the wheelchair and join his dancers.

He belted songs such as Kuponda Nhamo, Gum Kum, Go Back to Sender and the anthem Hove Huru.

“I will be off the wheelchair tomorrow (yesterday). Today I have to make use of it,” Soul Jah Love told an appreciative crowd.

Jah Love, who seems to have accepted his fate, has since released a new song Sauro Ava Chirema, produced by Trojan Fyah.

Some of lyrics say even if his leg is amputated due to his condition, that would not stop him from singing, as long as he still has his voice, which does the magic for him.

Yesterday, Soul Jah Love was reportedly spotted at Walter Magaya’s Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries in Waterfalls.
His manager Marshal “Wadis” Bhima told NewsDay on the sidelines of the show that Jah Love decided to come to the show for his supportive fans.

“Chibaba’s condition has really improved. That is why he is out of the hospital and a private doctor is seeing him. While he is yet to stand, he will be performing for his fans seated in a wheelchair, so as not to strain himself,” he said.

“I would like to thank all our fans and relatives for their unwavering support, as Chibaba patiently waits to fully recover ahead of his United Kingdom tour.”

The concert also featured dancehall icons, Freeman and Dadza D, Jah Prayzah and his Third Generation band, Ammara Brown and The Movement.

All the musicians that performed put up top-notch acts, while Jah Prayzah’s set was failed by poor sound.

Although the Tsviriyo hitmaker was greeted with applause when he took to the stage around 1am, the glitz soon turned to gloom, as the band put up a lifeless performance marred by serious sound flaws.