BACK in Chikurumadziwa village in Wedza, the hornbill bird (dendera) was regarded as a rare specie. The few times I saw the birds in millet fields, I would follow them from a distance. I would not chase them, but rather enjoy their sharp, melodic sounds until they disappeared into the long thick grass.
BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA
The village elders would discourage us from chasing the birds away, because they were associated with the onset of rainfalls. But what I revered them most for, was their sound — it was very musical.
I became proficient at imitating the sound, humming and booming all the way from the grazing fields, where I would go to gather cattle. It was only in 1997, when I fell in love with Simon Chimbetu’s music. With its soothing tinge, it resonated well, with that sound that was familiar to my ears.
The album, Survival, had just been released, with the song Simba Nederere topping the charts. The album was laced with scintillating songs, a real sungura brand of music called Dendera. Mr Viscose, as Chimbetu was popularly known back then, had songs that featured guitar solos sandwiched between prominent vocal lines and repetitive guitar riffs, but the bass line was just outstanding.
Tomorrow marks 11 years after Simon “Chopper” Chimbetu’s death.
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His rise to stardom took a lot of hard work. The Saina hit-maker realised greater success when he went solo, recording all-time classics like Kuipa Chete, Ngoma Yanditora Moyo and Mwana Wedangwe.
Towards the end of the 80s, Chimbetu recorded many hits and grew to be a force to reckon with on the musical scene. He was famous for penning songs such as Samatenga, One Way and Dzandipedza Mafuta.
Being an extraordinary musician, he won the hearts of many people throughout his career by composing multilingual songs, singing fluently in Shona, Chewa, Ndebele and Swahili.
The Dendera Kings founder had a rather inauspicious beginning in music. In the late 1970s, Chimbetu worked for a tobacco processing firm, while learning the music ropes. He sang in nightclubs and hotels with the Sungura Boys fronted by John Chibadura. The band provided the instrumental backing, while Simon and his younger brother, Naison, did the vocals.
The duo rose to fame as the Marxist Brothers, a name that summed up Chimbetu’s ideological orientation at the time.
They, however, split in 1988. Simon established the Orchestra Dendera Kings, while Naison formed his G7 Commandos.
Simon struck the right chords after the split, recording the all-time hit, Nguva Yakaoma in 1990.
Chimbetu may be smiling in his grave, as Dendera music was not interred with his bones, with his family — Allan, Sulumani, Tryson, Douglas and Saiwe — still holding fort.
In fact, the younger generation has successfully revolutionised the genre, bringing in a contemporary touch to a sound traditionally known as slow, but absorbing, while making it relevant to young music lovers.
Orchestra Dendera Kings publicist, Joe “Local” Nyamungoma said Sulu and his troops have done well to keep Chopper’s legacy alive.
“We have done a lot to keep his dream alive. We are working hard to reach the founder’s level, but for now, judging by what is on the ground, Orchestra Dendera Kings have done quite well in safeguarding dendera music,” he said.
“All in all, we are on the right track with dendera music fans not being starved of the beautiful genre.”
After taking over the band, Sulu launched his debut album, Ndomusiya Nani, in 2007. Reverse Deal (2009) and Non Stop (2010) soon followed.
Sulu hit the jackpot after releasing the album Syllabus that carried the hit song Sean Timba, featuring Jah Prayzah. He then won three National Arts Merit Awards in 2013. He is currently riding high with his latest album Gunship.