Ex Tuku Band Members - Charles and Namatayi Chipanga to hold first public show

FORMER Black Spirits band members who parted ways with their paymaster under unclear circumstances will be holding their FIRST public show on October 8 at East End Hall at the Showground. The ‘rebels’ will also be unveiling their new name, Chalenam, H-Metro can reveal. The name Chalenam was derived from the prefixes of the two band leaders’ names Charles (Chipanga) and wife Namatai (Mubariki).

Chalenam is made up of Never Mpofu on bass, Simba Dembedza on drums and Patience Masiyambiri on backing vocals. BOTH Never and Simba were core members of Oliver Mtukudzi’s Black Spirits. In an interview with H-Metro, the band’s leader and former Tuku’s marimba player Charles Chipanga said the ‘rebels’ are raring to go. 

“We are more than ready for that show and we have been rehearsing hard. This is however not our FIRST show, we have been having a number of corporate shows and this is only our first PUBLIC show,” said Chipanga. Chipanga said they will be playing songs from his new album and they will also be sampling tracks from Namatai’s forthcoming album which is due for release in December. 

Chipanga said he felt that they had grown as individuals quickly adding that they treasure the experience they gained from the Black Spirits tenure. “I cherish the time we had at Black Spirits but it was time to move on and grow. I will use my experience to bring a new dimension to gospel music,” said Chipanga. 

Chaleman’s public gig will definitely garner a lot of interest as people would want to see if these musicians and instrumentalists were riding on Tuku’s back. However, in their FIRST gig, the ‘rebels’ are NOT alone. They are in fact supporting the first family of gospel music Baba naMai Charamba. This development has compelled music critics to quickly suggest that the ‘rebels’ are NOT yet out of the cradle. 

They strategically associated themselves with a BIG brand on the local music landscape so that they can share the glory. But Chipanga poured cold water on the speculation and ‘conspiracy theories’. Said Chipanga: “Well, I have had a long working relationship with Baba Charamba ever since I was a kid with Children of God group. “He has seen me grow in music to where I am now. Besides that with God NOTHING is impossible and we can conquer on our own” It’s said that the FIRST cut is the DEEPEST and the ‘rebels’ are expected to perform exceptionally well to create their own fan base and brand outside the Black Spirits.