Zahara, the most popular and celebrated musician in South Africa today, is set to hold two concerts in Harare and Bulawayo next month. Tawanda Chingarah, Pandave Entertainment concerts manager confirmed the upcoming gigs. “I can confirm that everything is set to bring Zahara to Zimbabwe for a concert at the Harare International Conference Centre on March 2 and in Bulawayo in the same week.”
Urban grooves musician Alexio Kawarara was a toast on Friday as he gave a splendid stage performance that shook Harare’s City Sports Bar. Performing at the venue for the first time, Kawarashould have been surprised by the sheer number of people who turned out to see the Shaina star perform live.
THE three dancers who left Sulumane Chimbetu's Orchestra Dendera Kings say they have settled well at Tryson Chimbetu's Marxist Brothers and are happy with their new working conditions. They also said they wanted to put the record straight that they were no longer job hunting, contrary to media reports. "We have been working with Tryson since the beginning of the year and those who have been following our shows know that we are now with Tryson," Nyasha Mugari (24), who was in the company of his fellow dancers, Wayne Kembo (28) and Phillip Dzivike (33), said.
The National Arts Merit Awards scheduled for February 18, 2011 in Harare face problems of acceptance, owing largely to categories which do not allow comparing like with like and to the fact that it can be difficult to find specialised judges who are not also competing for awards. An addition problem for some is that anyone can nominate someone for an award, without necessarily obtaining the artiste's approval.
Sungura kingpin Alick Macheso and Dendera exponent Suluman Chimbetu will finally face off at the 11th edition of the National Arts Merit Awards slated for Saturday at the 7 Arts Theatre. Music promoters had made fruitless efforts to have the two share the same stage after Macheso's three band members crossed the floor to Suluman's Orchestra Dendera Kings, brewing a storm.
Senior sungura artist Nicholas “Madzibaba” Zakaria says he has shelved plans to release a new album until prohibitive action is taken to curb piracy. The “Senior Lecturer”, as the veteran musician is called by his fans, says he has petitioned the government through Zimbabwe Union of Musicians patron Webster Shamu to take a serious stance against piracy.
Renowned urban groover Alexio Kawara will tonight take his act to the City Sports Bar in Harare in a debut appearance that is expected to illuminate the joint in preparation for Valentine's Day. The gig will certainly be a soulful journey for revellers, who are likely to get the right dosage of what the doctor ordered in terms of love, when the crooner dishes out soulful ballads, putting his fans into the Valentine mood.
In most of his shows, Alexio has often measured up to the task, and often sets the entertainment bar high.The young crooner, who is enjoying rave reviews following the release of his fifth album - "Tose" - is in the category of a rare breed group of young Zimbabwean musicians, who have remained professional, while delivering top-notch acts.
Sungura musician Sulumani Chimbetu has offered $70 in maintenance money for his two children after a magistrate ordered him to pay $1 000 a month. Chimbetu made the offer in an application at the Harare Magistrates Court seeking to suspend a maintenance order issued last month compelling him to pay $500 per child.
His wife Marigold Mutemasango got the maintenance order after dragging the musician to court last month accusing him of neglecting his children. But Chimbetu in his application for the suspension of the order filed two weeks ago said he earned $800 a month and feared he might default leading to his incarceration.
Chitungwiza-based outfits, who both lost their frontmen, The Sounds of the Muddy Face and the Chibadura Brothers on Friday night put up splendid shows at Club Warehouse and Arnomush Night Spot respectively.
The Sounds of the Muddy Face lost leader Cephas Mashakada last year, while John Chibadura, who led the Chibadura Brothers, died in 1999. Roderick Chemudhara, who performed with the Chibadura Brothers, now leads the Tembo Brothers, the group Chibadura fronted.
Do you remember popular songs Auntie Rhoda and Pamuchchato wa Tobias? The two golden oldies quickly remind the not-so-young of the sungura ensemble Ngosimbi Crew. The songs were among the hit songs that shook the airwaves and social gatherings in the late 90s and early into the new millennium.
The crew which gave us these yesteryear hits is still pursuing the arts with a new leader, but has not been fortunate to maintain the popularity. Sam Mabukwa assumed leadership of the group after the original leader Admire Kasenga passed on a few years ago.
Upcoming musician Solomon Madzikatire is working on a music album set to revive the fading legacy left by his late multi-talented grandfather Safirio Madzikatire who was known as Mukadota in both music and comedy circles. In an interview Solomon, son to actor Elijah Madzikatire, revealed work was at an advanced stage with a local recording company that would see him redoing some of his late grandfathers popular songs.
Yes, I recorded a 12-track album titled Huya Tifare with Andy Browns studio and I have engaged Zimbabwe Music Corporation (ZMC) to do the marketing, but it appears they are taking their time, said Solomon. The album contains some of my grandfathers popular songs such as Hunyani and Ndatenga Mota among others that I remixed and believe me, fans will like it especially those that loved Mukadotas music, said Solomon.
Enock Nox Gunis latest single Ndinonyara could be the next urban grooves hit if its fast pace up local music charts is anything to go by. The song has occupied pole position on Power FMs Top 10 charts for almost more than a week, having entered the log at the bottom less than a fortnight ago.
But like many other artists who cannot predict hits in the studio, Guni said he did not take Ndinonyara as a serious song until his producer urged him to record it. I composed the track just for fun and never thought I could seriously record it until I sang it to my late producer Siphosenkosi TBA Mukhuhlani who said it was a good song, said Guni. Listen to the tune below:
The "Young Igwe" - Peter Moyo - failed to finish his performance as emotions got the better of him and he broke down in front of fans at a family show held on Sunday at the City Sports Bar. Dhewa failed to control his emotions when Alick Macheso joined him on stage to sing the line " . . . vakanditorera baba wangu", probably in reference to the young singer's loss of his father late last year.
Former Orchestra Mberikwazvo rhythm guitarist Innocent Mjintu, who left Alick Macheso's band after being fired for secretly recording an album, is expected to return into the Extrabasso's orbit albeit as a supporting act. The talented guitarist has been spotted on a number of occasions playing at Macheso's live shows. Mjintu, who now has five albums to his name, has since expressed his interest to work with the sungura icon, who is still smarting from the departure of three of his key band members - Franco Slomo, Noel Nyazanda and vocalist Elton Muropa - who have since joined Sulumani Chimbetu.
UTAKATAKA Express band leader Peter Moyo has agreed to sell off two of his band members, Spencer Khumulani and Gift "Shiga Shiga" Katulika, to Energy Mutodi's Real Sounds of Africa in a deal set to change the face of the music industry. The deal brokered byPartson "Chipaz" Chimbodza, the president of the Music Promoters Association of Zimbabwe, sought to create a win-win situation between the two groups.
Three Musketeers - Macheso, Peter Moyo and Tryson Chimbetu
Sungura icon Alick Macheso, still smarting from the departure of three of his trusted lieutenants, will tonight seek to prove that Orchestra Mberikwazvo has become an institution that cannot be bogged down by trivialities when he takes his act to Pamuzinda Highway Xscape. He comes to the stage like a raging wounded bull, and fortunately for the multitudes of fans - who will throng the venue - his energy will rightly be spent on entertaining them.
Dendera prince Suluman Chimbetu aka Sulu said his relationship with music diva Sister Jean is a professional one and she was left in his care by the her now late father J Masters. “What people do not understand about me and Jean is that I was close to her father, the late J Masters. He helped me gain ground and brand my group when I started. Before he died, he asked me to look after her."
Alick Macheso has enhanced his position as mentor of young musicians through various collaborative shows where he has roped in upcoming musicians as supporting acts. After working on a number of shows with Tendai and Morgan Dembo, Macheso took aboard Tryson Chimbetu and now he is working with Peter Moyo.
Nicholas Zakaria is one of the most talented Sungura Musicians in Zimbabwe. News emanating from the grape vine is that the 'Senior Lecturer' is busy compiling album number 24. The album we hear is earmarked for release in the first quarter of the year. In a recent interview with H-Metro, the Senior Lecturer alluded to the news: “I am currently working on my 24th album. “The album caries six tracks of superior quality but I am still thinking about of the title,” said the affable music lecturer.
Sounds of the Muddy Face band is recommencing live performances following a musical break which they took after the death band leader, Cephas Mashakada last year. Speaking to the Daily News recently, Shemu Mashonganyika aka Chibage said the band is now taking it from where Mashakada left. “The Muddy Face was there and is still there. It is only that we were mourning Mashakada but now with the help of mother (Mashakada’s wife) we are carrying on with the job,” said Mashonganyika.
