Intimacy with Zim musicians

Paul Brickhill - Do not think of this as a goodbye

2014-10-03T09:16:00.002-07:00

On August 1 this year, Paul Brickhill wrote to me. One of the paragraphs which draw tears into my eyes is where he says: Do not think of this as a goodbye; I am sick but also just updating those friends who may not have known the dramas that unfolded over the last 3 weeks, from 24 July, and changed my life. My mother said almost the same when she died of cancer in 2012. I spoke

Tuku disowns 'biography'

2014-09-14T09:36:00.001-07:00

STATEMENT FROM OLIVER MTUKUDZI I have been reading with great dismay the excerpts from a so called ‘biography’ of me by Shepherd Mutamba who used to work with Tuku Music as a documenter for our website and other publicity materials. About two years ago Mutamba came to me and told me that while he was working for us he had been simultaneously writing a ‘biography’ about me, and wanted to

Pah Chihera - Once in a while stars emerge

2014-09-03T03:45:00.000-07:00

Pamhidzai Tracy Mbirimi’s soulful Afro-Jazz music has a unique freshness that stands her out as a natural singer. Known by her stage name ‘Pah Chihera’, she has just released her debut album, Runonzi Rudo, which has love birds in Zimbabwe all singing along. The title track features the slick Prince K Musarurwa who seamlessly

Elijah Madzikatire says father Safirio destroyed his musical career

2013-02-12T12:03:00.000-08:00

I met Elijah Madzikatire years after he had hung up his guitar. He had also left Gramma Records where he had produced the late Paul Matavire’s debut single VaJiri. At the time, Elijah had acted in the movie Everyone’s Child and had a comedy Bhero Mukadota running on ZBC TV.We met at a club in Hatfield one evening in 2004. He lumbered into the club about an hour

The Carol Chivengwa-Mujokoro & Ivy Kombo-Kasi Egea puzzle

2013-01-31T02:05:00.000-08:00

I have always wondered why Egea Gospel Train super brands Ivy Kombo-Kasi and Carol Chivengwa-Mujokoro rarely acknowledge each other's career contributions.I interviewed Carol via written questions sometime in 2006, and the Ivy Kombo-Kasi part did not come out. I also spent a day with Ivy and Kasi some years back, but the name Carol did not appear. All that Kasi said when I asked him why

Blessings yet to arrive for Noel Zembe

2013-01-30T05:22:00.000-08:00

Noel Zembe The name Noel in Hebrew means Arrival of God just like the angels said to the shepherds whom they found sleeping in the fields. There is even a song that goes like: Shepherds, the chorus come and swell! Sing noel, noel! Shepherds, the mighty chorus come and swell! Shepherds, shake off your drowsy sleep!Rise and leave your silly sheep.Angels from

Tedious Matsito determined to walk - physically, musically

2013-01-23T06:26:00.000-08:00

Tedious Matsito He lost his two brothers when the band was at its zenith, but Tedious Matsito was determined to go on even after death had visited him again and snatched away his other brother and band members whom he said understood his music. Today, because of that kombi accident, Tedious has lost a leg and his career took a hard knock. Still he is determined to rise and walk again -

Jackie Madondo went too soon

2013-01-16T06:44:00.002-08:00

Jackie Madondo The day Jackie Madondo died, the people were waiting for her at the then Harare International Conference Centre at the Sheraton Hotel. It was in the afternoon of November 17 2004 and the Ivy Kombo-initiative; Nguva Yakwana Gospel Show had just kicked off. I had also just joined The Herald and was standing outside the venue together with Jackie’s uncle, former librarian,

Nebeta was a rare breed

2012-12-12T04:38:00.001-08:00