POPULAR Dendera musician, producer and Orchestra Dendera Kings frontman Sulumani Chimbetu has pledged energy-filled, exhilarating performances throughout 2026, reaffirming his reputation for holding shows that leave audiences breathless and smiling.
With a catalogue that stretches across decades and generations, Sulu enters the new season focused, prolific and hungry to raise the bar.
He told NewsDay Life & Style recently that his creative engine is running at full throttle.
The 14-track album, Tsapo, which was released last year, continues to enjoy strong rotation, while a 15th studio project is taking shape and is scheduled for release later this year.
For fans, that momentum translates to a packed set list and renewed arrangements that keep familiar songs feeling freshly minted.
“The gig at The Grub on January 30 is going to be our first for this season before Sherwood Golf Club on Saturday 31,” he said.
“So I’m urging music lovers to come in their numbers and enjoy our evergreen music with us.
“We shall be belting hit after hit from our rich catalogue and hence we are promising our patrons value for their hard-earned money.”
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Sulu has a long history in the music circles, with hits such as Sean Timba (feat Jah Prayzah) from the album Syllabus, and Hartley from Tsapo.
There are also albums Ndomusiya Nani (2007), Reverse Deal (2008), Non Stop (2010), Syllabus (2012), Syllabus DVD Album (2014), Gunship (2014), Jamboree (2016) and Entanglement (2020), which have commanded a lot of airplay on both online and electronic media platforms.
Sulu believes confidence is earned.
Born in Chegutu and raised within a legendary musical lineage, his journey spans early schooling, discipline from his Air Force of Zimbabwe service, and full immersion into Orchestra Dendera Kings after joining the band in 2004.
Following the passing on of his father, Simon Chimbetu, in 2005, Sulu assumed leadership with resolve, blending reverence for tradition with an appetite for evolution.
Crucially, his consistency mirrors broader shifts within Zimbabwean music.
Improved access to music education, affordable recording technology and professional grade instruments have elevated production quality across the industry.
For Sulu, those tools amplify a lifetime of learning, discipline and performance instinct.
The result is music that hits harder, travels further and performs better on stage.
As 2026 unfolds, his promise is simple and bold, high octane shows, timeless songs and proof that when education meets equipment, Zimbabwean music thrives.
With audiences young and old finding common rhythm in his sets, Sulu stands as a case study on how heritage adapts.
Training, technology and touring discipline converge to sharpen songwriting, tighten bands and elevate spectacle.
The dance floor responds instantly, confirming that preparation, not nostalgia alone, powers the future.
With that, audiences leave satisfied, energised and confident that Dendera excellence endures nationally.
