Progress Chipfumo rekindles love with fans

Progress Chipfumo

Progress Chipfumo, the dreadlocked musician has bounced back in a big way with two permanent performing dates at Harare’s Hollys Hotel (Sundays) and Ritz Sports Bar in Kuwadzana High Density Suburb (Wednesdays).

The weekly performances are a chance to spring the gifted musician’s profile and have him compete on the tight local showbiz market dominated by a few musicians. A manager at Holly’s Hotel praised Chipfumo’s workmanship and said he is one musician who always delivers.

“He is one musician who knows how to entertain audiences and his stage work is very energetic. As a joint we decided to dedicate a day to him so he can showcase his talent,” said the manager. Chipfumo will also rekindle his love with the drinking hole — Ritz Sports Bar in Kuwadzana high density suburb in Harare where he used to perform every Wednesday before he fell sick.

Ritz Sports Bar proprietor Isaiah Chigiyo said Chipfumo has rekindled his relationship with his fans.  “Proggie, as the former Hohodza band member is affectionately known in the music scene used to perform at the bar on Wednesdays and people became familiar with that but the schedule was hampered when he fell sick.

“Because he has recuperated, we are glad to continue from where we left. Actually Proggie was starving his fans when he was not feeling well,” said Chigiyo. On Wednesday Kuwadzana music lovers thronged the small Ritz Sports Bar to witness the live act by Chipfumo.

Revellers packed the bar despite the proprietor saying they had poorly marketed the concert. Chipfumo performed at the joint and he stunned the fully-packed house with his strong voice and a flawless performance. Some fans were sceptical of his performance, following the ill-health reports.

“He still has his voice and even his act is still charming,” said an unidentified reveller. Chipfumo took the opportunity to sample some new songs from his forthcoming album Ndoenda Harare and a host of other songs from his catalogue. To my surprise fans were singing along with him on the new track Ndoenda Harare and really got value for money.

Some people were seen peeping through the windows trying to catch a glimpse of what was transpiring indoors and this forced the bar assistants to cover all the windows with thick and opaque curtains. The beer seemed affordable as everyone was drinking their favourite brand.  “I am now fit for the shows and I can perform for the whole night without facing problems. Next week I will be in the studio recording my eight-track album Ndoenda Harare."

“I know I had starved my fans of new songs but the situation was beyond my control,” said the Tsiurika hit-maker. Chipfumo said he was discouraged to record new albums because of piracy. “When you think of piracy, you feel used — working for nothing but for others’ gain.

“However, for the sake of my loyal fans I will drop a new album for them Ndoenda Harare which I think is equally a good project,” said Chipfumo. He said the album will prove a point that he is still equal to the task. “People were saying a lot of uninformed reports, eeh Proggie apera (Progress is now a spent force) and I hope this album will go a long way in setting the record straight,” he said.

Chipfumo has a number of albums which include Let Them Know, Ndinovatenda Nei, Tsiurika,Usatamba Nemoto and his debut album Progress Report among others. Chipfumo is well-known for his meaningful lyrics. Since he split from Hohodza Band after a protracted wrangle with Portia Gwanzura, the front lady, the musician has proved to be a force to reckon with in the showbiz industry.

The 34-year-old musician was born in Chiredzi and grew up in Harare’s old suburb of Highfield.