New sungura group releases album

The Now Now Zvino Band, a fairly new outfit based in Harare’s suburb of Glen Norah, is set to storm the Zimbabwean music scene with its high energy sungura beat. The band recently released its debut album entitled Tindo, whose essence is a uniquely Zimbabwean sound that is a pleasing blend of tight sungura and jiti rhythms with colourful maungwe lyrics.

Macheso 'recruits' Peter Moyo and Tryson Chimbetu

Macheso

SUNGURA ace Alick Macheso continues with his mission of supporting upcoming artistes as he ropes in Peter Moyo and Tryson Chimbetu for his Pamuzinda Highway Escape show on February 3. Macheso has been performing with Tryson as his main supporting act and late last year Peter curtain-raised for him as well. Interestingly, both artistes are sons of late musicians - Tongai Moyo and Naison Chimbetu - who were legends in their own right.

The Picture that rocked Macheso's Dancer's marriage

Mahuice and a fan

The pregnant wife of Orchestra Mberikwazvo’s key dancer Selemane “MaJuice” Mpochi saw this picture and flipped. A red mist descended on Lavender Guvheya when she saw her dancer husband being cosy with another woman. She flew into a rage and threatened to walk out of the marriage. Majuice tried to explain it as just one of many admiring fans but his wife saw it differently.

Peter Moyo out to prove a point

Peter Moyo

MAN of the moment Peter "Dhewa" Moyo - who is continuing with his father's legacy - will start his 2012 itinerary with a maiden performance at City Sports Bar in Harare tonight. Ironically, Peter's gig reminds many of his late father Tongai Moyo's abortive bid to perform at the same joint last year owing to his deteriorating health.

Franco Ex Macheso dancer first show with Sulu uninspiring

Sulu and new signing Franco 'Slomo' Dhaka

IT SEEMS Dendera music exponent Suluman Chimbetu is trying hard to impress his legion of fans! The 29-year-old crooner appeared to be under pressure to justify his latest signings from Alick Macheso’s Orchestra Mberikwazvo during his first show of 2012 held at Jazz 105 last Friday.

Peter Moyo to introduce new songs

Peter Moyo

Young Igwe, Peter Moyo will introduce three of his new songs as he opens his debut live show performance for this year at Harare’s City Sports Bar. The debut concert which is pencilled for this Thursday, January 20, will no doubt be an exciting encounter as the young performer instils new songs in his bill.

Desperate Macheso turns to old hands

Alick Macheso in trying times

Alick Macheso has struck the panic button and fast forwarded the return of his guitarist, Lucky Mumiriki, from sick leave following the departure of three key band members. Donald Gogo who had been touted as the replacement for the departed Noel Nyazanda is said to be unreliable and does not always show up for shows. 

Peter Moyo Buys first Car

Young Igwe with his wheels

AFFABLE Utakataka Express heir Peter Moyo is elated about his latest acquisition. The young Igwe is now rolling in a white tinted Honda Avantage which he purchased a fortnight ago. The 22-year-old paraded his model at Extra Mile Leisure Spot on Friday where he shared the stage with Oliver Mtukudzi and rhumba musician Energy Mutodi. 

A bubbling Peter told H-Metro that he foresees a bright future even without his dad. “It’s my new car. “I bought it two weeks ago from my twin-friends Calisto and Chris in Kwekwe. “It cost US$7 500 and my uncle Knowledge Chosa helped me to settle the full amount. “The band uses the other Chariot and I thought it was good to get something of my own,” he said

Nicholas Zakaria Building Music Academy in Chitungwiza

In a bid to assist upcoming musicians realise their dreams, popular sungura artist Nicholas “Madzibaba” Zakaria, is set to build a music academy in Chitungwiza. Chitungwiza is home to many popular musicians and some have called it “the city of music”. Madzibaba said there were many upcoming and aspiring musicians in the city and his dream was to see them making it to the top like many former names from their neighbourhood.

“I have already acquired land in Seke Unit L and plans are underway to start work on the site. Hopefully by June next year we will be officially opening the academy,” said Madzibaba. He has called upon fellow artists and interested business people to support him in his endeavour. He has struck a deal with a music equipment manufacturing company for the provision of instruments that would be used at the academy at affordable prices.

“Instruments in Zimbabwe are expensive. So the music academy and shop will offer equipment at affordable prices. We have to make it easy for established and upcoming musicians to get instruments.” The academy will house a recording studio that will mainly be used by upcoming musicians. “Fellow artists should take time and open doors to upcoming musicians that need assistance to realise their dreams.”

He said the academy would be open to musicians from across the country although the primary target was Chitungwiza. If his project materialises, Madzibaba will join the list of other musicians that have established arts academies like Oliver Mtukudzi who runs Pakare Paye Arts Centre and Clive Malunga who set up Jenaguru Music Academy. 

First Farai releases 9th Album

Sungura fourth son First Farai has released his ninth album called 'Pahasha - Love Market'. The album comes in the wake of him being accused by fellow controversial musician Hosiah Chipanga of having pocketed Cephas Mashakada's condolence money. 

Peter Moyo to takes Mutare by Storm

Peter Moyo and Sharon Macheso

The new Utakataka Express frontman Peter Moyo lived up to expectations when he took Mutare by storm at the weekend sending a clear and loud message that he is the right man for the job. The son of the late icon, Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo, has proved that he is a man to look up to in musical circles and with hard work and proper guidance, Peter will rock Zimbabwe’s music scene to keep alive his father’s legacy.

Nicholas Zakaria to set up Music Academy

Nicholas 'Madzibaba' Zakaria 'Senior Lecturer' is a formidable force in the music industry in Zimbabwe. He is indeed the grand dad of Sungura music having tutored big artists such as Alick Macheso and many others. News coming through is that Madzibaba is planning to open a music academy to assist upcoming musicians. This gesture is commendable and hopefully corporate organisations will chip in to make the project a success. Read on below:

Macheso unveils son

ALICK Macheso presented his son, Alick Junior, to his fans during a Family Show at Harare Gardens on Sunday. Also present for the ‘presentation’ were Macheso’s wives. — Tafadzwa (Alick Jnr’s mother) and Nyadzisai. (HMetro)

Capacity Crowd for Peter Moyo's first show in Harare

For the first time in many years, Harare’s Sports Diner was full to the brim as music fans converged at the club for a memorable concert to relive the late Tongai Moyo’s music legacy. The venue, which has been suffering poor crowds in recent times despite its history as a major spot turned out to be too small on Friday night as the club was turned into some mini-festival with some fans being turned away.

Cars jammed the area that houses Sports Diner as the concert sent revellers on their feet until early Saturday morning. The venue owners were also caught unaware by the sheer number of people who turned up and struggled to contain the numbers. The audiences wanted to see for themselves first-hand the rise of Peter Moyo, Tongai’s son who has taken over his father’s band.

Peter Moyo's debut Harare Gig

Peter Moyo will have his first public gig in Harare as leader of Utakataka Express following the death of his father Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo last month. Dubbed “Quad 11” the show takes place at Sports Diner International on Friday.

Peter had a brief performance at a private function at the launch of his father’s documentary at 7Arts Theatre recently. His previous stage appearances in Harare were stand-in acts for his father when the latter’s health deteriorated. The young musician stood in for his father at the “Zim’s Finest” gig at Glamis Arena in September and did the same at Mushandirapamwe Hotel a few weeks before Dhewa’s death.

Macheso and Gift Amuli on Regional tour

Sungura musicians Alick Macheso and Gift Amuli will this weekend take their acts regionally on separate tours. Macheso travels to Namibia for two shows while Amuli goes to South Africa for three gigs. Macheso will share the stage with renowned rhumba heavyweight Awilo Longomba. The duo is scheduled to perform in Windhoek on Friday before they rock Oshakate on Saturday.

Music Giants clash in Mbare

DESPITE having all sorts of unsavory talk over competition and rivalry, some musicians continue to hold successful shows together silencing their critics. One of such latest shows is the one pitting Sungura and Dendera titans Suluman Chimbetu, Freddy "Kapfupi" Manjalima and Josphat Somanje to be held at the Mbare Netball Complex this Saturday.

I have quit football to concentrate on music - Dhewa's son Peter moyo

Peter Moyo, the eldest son of the late Tongai Moyo says he has quit football to take charge of Utakataka Express. ”I returned home from South Africa to support my father. I have since stopped playing football so that I can concentrate on enhancing my music career and I have always wanted to be a musician,” he said.

Alick Macheso shaken by Dhewa's death

Sungura ace Alick Macheso spoke of how devastated he was when he heard the news of the death of Tongai Moyo at the weekend. Macheso, who is viewed by many sungura music lovers as the arch rival to the late Moyo, said he first learnt of the death when he was on tour in Chiredzi. "We had three shows lined up at the weekend in Chiredzi as well as Jerera and minutes before going on stage in Chiredzi that's when we got a phone call from Shiga Shiga that he (Tongai) had passed on.

Sulumani offers to Groom Tongai's son

One of Zimbabwe's prolific dendera musicians, Sulumane Chimbetu will tomorrow night hold a commemorative show in honour of the late sungura icon Tongai Moyo. Tongai, who was known by his legions of fans as Dhewa, died in Harare last Saturday after a long battle with cancer and was buried at his rural home in Sesombe, Zhombe on Tuesday. Sulumane's show would be held at Hwenje's Village in Glen Norah B, and coincidentally the show will also mark the official opening of the joint, located at Pafatso's Area.