Mic Inity's still got it

Reggae crooner Mic Inity made perhaps his most visible return to the stage in a while in a show at The Volt in Harare on Friday.

It was the same stage by a different moniker that he had made a legend of himself on the Harare night scene having dove-tailed from the old Mannenberg as a performer of note with a powerful following.

Run-ins with the law, strained relations, a shrinking economy and other reported troubles affected the status of the beleaguered star.

After a stint in Zambia and a few low-profile shows, when we heard he was starting a regular gig at the new venue we were curious.

Granted we arrived a whole two hours into his set but by many accounts he was as electrifying as before. At the time we arrived he was belting out some old favourites although at the point his voice had become a quite strained and a bit off-colour. That is something that can be fixed and a few more shows down the line he should be OK.

His stage presence was still on fleek as was his ability to have the crowd eating out of his palm.

He might have to do a bit of work with the band. It will be hard for him to create another Hotta Faya (poignant moment at some point when a reveler in the crowd was wearing a beret like that of the late Dennis Teguru).

We watched him until the end, at some point his voice was re-energised and the last 45 minutes were the old Inity again, in full effervescent flow.

A lot of work will need to be done to mend relations with his old fans who will view him with a healthy serving of skepticism. It is not that they don’t believe in his skills. That has never been doubted.