Opinion / Columnist
Meet Emmerson Mnangagwa jnr
21 Feb 2015 at 20:50hrs | Views
His father occupies a place in Zimbabwe's version of the "West Wing" as one of the country's two Vice Presidents - but Emmerson Mnangagwa Junior has other ideas to win the masses.
The name Emmerson Mnangagwa carries weight. The original owner hardly makes public statements but during the Zanu-PF congress in December genes of an entertainer were revealed through his "Pasi nemhandu-u-u!" chants.
The crowd went crazy for that. But on that particular night, in a different setting and a cross-over crowd, another Emmerson Mnangagwa was doing his thing behind turntables - driving people crazy.
Emmerson Mnangagwa Junior, the son of Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has made a name for himself as a top notch DJ/music producer.
When people whisper that he is the Vice President's son, many dismiss it as a mere rumour. Questions such as "What is he doing here?" and "Is he married? (from the ladies) come up.
In DJ circles, he goes by the stage name DJ St Emmo - keeping it real as he does - he is just another young man out to make a difference in his own way.
Not a usual profession for a person coming from one of the country's most powerful families, St Emmo took a route that many think lowly of. But he has the full support from his parents.
"He (father) supports my career," he said briefly trying to avoid his father's shadow in an exclusive interview with B-Metro.
That's it? This reporter presses on, like any ordinary person would.
"I don't get special treatment. I work hard, and I let my work speak for itself," he added.
For him it is not about where one comes from. It is about what a person has to offer.
"I'm generally a creative person and music is a passion," he adds.
The son of a lawyer turned career politician has spoken. His ambition is to become Zimbabwe's version of Russell Simmons the owner of Def Jam, a multi-pronged entertainment empire.
With other like-minded youths, Emmerson Mnangagwa Junior formed what has come to be known as The Movement.
"The Movement is an entertainment company that outsources DJs, musicians, poets, comedians, catering, bouncers and photography and many more. So far, there are about 32 members," he said.
For him it was not a chance career or an outright dream chased. He also has technical and academic grounding in show business.
"I went to the Cape Audio College in Cape Town," he said.
Cape Audio College is one of South Africa's most prestigious music schools.
After finishing college, he then went for it big time.
"The idea (The Movement) came when I and a friend, Magama, started fusing commercial music and live saxophone and from there we continued to grow the brand," he said.
There is no limit for young Emmerson. This is just the beginning of his dream.
"In 10 years I see The Movement being an international company," he added.
His attention is not divided. He directs his energy to seeing the dream come true.
Has he ever worked in his life?
"No I have not, it's always been music," he says.
In most cases, young musicians have taken up the same route as their fathers, uncles or any other close relative. But for DJ St Emmo, he is a pathfinder.
When his father took up the nationalist agenda, he did so not knowing what lay ahead. He made his own mark and rolled with the punches when hardship came. That counts a lot in his son. The source of his willpower is in the man he calls daddy.
"My father is a hardworking man and I really respect him," siad DJ St Emmo.
Like any other young man, the bright lights, popularity and vices that come with it are things to carefully navigate.
Hence he can freely talk about women.
His kind (of ladies) is hard to come by. But he defines it as: "A woman that can take care of herself," he says this affirming that he does not like "free loaders" and "gold diggers". Like they say if one wants to be a gold digger, they should have their own gold.
The name Emmerson Mnangagwa carries weight. The original owner hardly makes public statements but during the Zanu-PF congress in December genes of an entertainer were revealed through his "Pasi nemhandu-u-u!" chants.
The crowd went crazy for that. But on that particular night, in a different setting and a cross-over crowd, another Emmerson Mnangagwa was doing his thing behind turntables - driving people crazy.
Emmerson Mnangagwa Junior, the son of Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has made a name for himself as a top notch DJ/music producer.
When people whisper that he is the Vice President's son, many dismiss it as a mere rumour. Questions such as "What is he doing here?" and "Is he married? (from the ladies) come up.
In DJ circles, he goes by the stage name DJ St Emmo - keeping it real as he does - he is just another young man out to make a difference in his own way.
Not a usual profession for a person coming from one of the country's most powerful families, St Emmo took a route that many think lowly of. But he has the full support from his parents.
"He (father) supports my career," he said briefly trying to avoid his father's shadow in an exclusive interview with B-Metro.
That's it? This reporter presses on, like any ordinary person would.
"I don't get special treatment. I work hard, and I let my work speak for itself," he added.
For him it is not about where one comes from. It is about what a person has to offer.
"I'm generally a creative person and music is a passion," he adds.
The son of a lawyer turned career politician has spoken. His ambition is to become Zimbabwe's version of Russell Simmons the owner of Def Jam, a multi-pronged entertainment empire.
With other like-minded youths, Emmerson Mnangagwa Junior formed what has come to be known as The Movement.
"The Movement is an entertainment company that outsources DJs, musicians, poets, comedians, catering, bouncers and photography and many more. So far, there are about 32 members," he said.
"I went to the Cape Audio College in Cape Town," he said.
Cape Audio College is one of South Africa's most prestigious music schools.
After finishing college, he then went for it big time.
"The idea (The Movement) came when I and a friend, Magama, started fusing commercial music and live saxophone and from there we continued to grow the brand," he said.
There is no limit for young Emmerson. This is just the beginning of his dream.
"In 10 years I see The Movement being an international company," he added.
His attention is not divided. He directs his energy to seeing the dream come true.
Has he ever worked in his life?
"No I have not, it's always been music," he says.
In most cases, young musicians have taken up the same route as their fathers, uncles or any other close relative. But for DJ St Emmo, he is a pathfinder.
When his father took up the nationalist agenda, he did so not knowing what lay ahead. He made his own mark and rolled with the punches when hardship came. That counts a lot in his son. The source of his willpower is in the man he calls daddy.
"My father is a hardworking man and I really respect him," siad DJ St Emmo.
Like any other young man, the bright lights, popularity and vices that come with it are things to carefully navigate.
Hence he can freely talk about women.
His kind (of ladies) is hard to come by. But he defines it as: "A woman that can take care of herself," he says this affirming that he does not like "free loaders" and "gold diggers". Like they say if one wants to be a gold digger, they should have their own gold.
Source - b-metro
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