Jo Stak, once a rising star in Shanghai, now walks the streets of Harare, far from the spotlight that made him famous in China.
The Zimbabwean singer’s performance on The Voice of China won him a standing ovation and cemented his unlikely rise in the Chinese pop scene.
Stak – real name Joe Takawira, is back in his hometown of Harare, far from the adoring crowds, quietly living in the working-class suburb of Budiriro 5.
Stak: A Voice That Crossed Borders
Aljazeera reported that, Stak’s musical journey began in a Methodist church school where he sang in the choir and recorded a gospel album with classmates.
He later followed his fascination with Chinese culture sparked by Jackie Chan films – all the way to Shanghai in 2012, where he enrolled to study Mandarin at just 20 years old.
Fluent within two years, he began posting Mandarin covers of pop and R&B songs on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok. The response was immediate.
“Being Black in China makes you stand out naturally,” he says. “And being a musician made me stand out even more.”
He performed at weddings, festivals and music bars. His first gig earned him USD 1 500 (R28 365.45) enough to live on for months.
He later joined the Foundation Band, a multicultural group that performed Chinese and Western pop music, which helped elevate his profile.
One of his 37 recorded songs landed in the top 10 on Baidu Music, and he grew a massive online following of more than five million.
“I was surprised by my success in China,” Stak admits. “I was just doing what I loved—singing, performing, living freely.”
An Abrupt Return
That all came to a halt in 2019, when his work visa expired. At 27, Stak returned to Zimbabwe—now stuck in economic crisis with few prospects for continuing his career.
Despite his fame abroad, few at home recognised him. Even neighbours were unaware of his stardom until visiting Zimbabweans from China pointed it out.
“They were so excited to see him, like he was some big deal,” says Clemence Kadzomba, who runs a nearby tyre shop. “And yet, here he was, just hanging out with us like it was nothing.”
Stak found work as a Mandarin translator for a Chinese mining company. Though the job pays well, his passion remains music.
Zimbabwe’s media landscape is a different world. Radio stations didn’t respond to his submissions, and without Chinese social media platforms, his audience is out of reach.
“If Chinese social media were global, I’d still have a career,” he says. “That would have brought me international recognition.”
Holding On to a Dream
At 32, Stak is still writing songs, many of them in Mandarin.
He faces the challenge of rebuilding his music career in a country where few understand his unique appeal.
“I want to start afresh here,” he says. “But I also miss China. It was very good and welcoming to me.”
A video of him singing recently went viral among his old Chinese fanbase after his employer posted it on WeChat.
“People were asking, ‘Where is this guy?’” he says. “The Chinese love me.”
Whether his next chapter unfolds on an African or Asian stage, Jo Stak remains ready for the spotlight.
Can a Zimbabwean pop star who wowed China in Mandarin rebuild his music career back home?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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