Muzukuru: A true patriot who sang from the heart

Andy Brown

“TOMATO sauce, sauce, sauce sauce, Elizabeth! Let the children play . . .” These were the lyrics that made Andy Brown famous. The musician, who passed away on Friday last week after succumbing to pneumonia, was a man of many talents who sang for the people, was a patriot, a fact that was pervasive through his songs as he sang for his fellow countrymen with a passion that stemmed from the heart. Andy sang for all ages, both young and old, deriving most of his lyrics from folk songs.

Born of an black mother and a white father, the late pop musician grew up herding cattle in Mberengwa, which reflects his deep African roots. He also had a soft spot for children, as evidenced by the above lyrics that urge adults to give children their space to be themselves.

While he was also famous for his guitar-playing prowess, he was known for his unpredictable personality, sometimes given to temper tantrums if he thought that someone had crossed his path, while he could also be a pleasure to be around with.

My last encounter with him was about three years ago when he performed in Mvurwi with his group “The Storm” at a show that was organised by Benedict “Bima” Chagumuka, son to the late musician, Robbie.

After putting up a polished act, Andy and his members wanted to make a hasty retreat to Harare and he fumed after young Bima was nowhere to be found to pay him his duws.

He threatened to report Bima to the police, but unbeknown to him, young Bima was on his way to settle the performance fee with him.  That was Andy for you. He was also a patriotic musician at heart, who gave his all to perform at national galas that celebrated the nation’s historic events.

This was reflected in his songs like “Gondwanaland”, “Tigere”, Hondo Yesadza”, “Feed Me” among others, that talked about issues at the core of people’s struggles. Andy was born on March 15, 1962 in Mberengwa. He started playing the banjo at a very tender age. He moved to Bulawayo to attend Founders High School, where he teamed up with Gabriel Green and the late Jonah

Mutuma to form the group Pisces, named after the zodiac sign. In 1983, he hooked up with Rozalla Miller to formGrabb. A year later, they parted ways with Andy joining the Rusike Brothers. Again he left and was one of the founding members of the group Ilanga whose line-up included the likes of Busi Ncube, Chinx Chingaira and the late Don Gumbo and Adam Chisvo.

He toured various countries with the group, later meeting and marrying mbira exponent Chiwoniso Maraire.

The group later split with Brown forming The Storm, the group that he fronted until his death. He will be sadly missed. (Herald)