AFTER years of exploring music in and outside Zimbabwe, versatile veteran musician Simba Saini recently released his debut 10 track album titled Huruyadzo.
Report by Tinashe Sibanda
Born and bred in Kwekwe, the 35-year-old musician played drums for Bob Nyabinde, then co-founded the Makumbe Brothers band with James Nyamandi before moving to Harare where he became a member of the late Marshal Munhumumwe’s band, The Four Brothers, as a drummer for five years.
Before he became a member of The Four Brothers, Saini played with various jazz outfits including Jabavu Drive, Summer Breeze, The Movers and Jonah Mutuma of Sisonke where he was seen displaying an array of talents, including being a percussionist and vocalist besides his usual drumming.
This time around, Saini, through his latest and first ever album, Huruyadzo, has come to show himself more as a songwriter, arranger and producer, together with his band Samanyanga signifying the arrival of a new force in the local music industry.
“I moved to Cape Town in 2005 to get a broader aspect of music through meeting with varios musicians of various genres and it took years to finally come back to Zimbabwe to present my music as a solo artiste,” he said.
Saini said he would not limit his music to one genre thus his latest album was a mixture of Afro-jazz, Chimurenga and other forms of music to fit any environment as his major aim was crossing borders musically.
The album has captivating songs, all with an African touch including Samanyanga, Kuchemera Rudo, Chinouraya, Chakafukidza, Tinunurei and Ishungu among other songs which recently landed him an exclusive interview on SABC3’s Expresso.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“My first song, Samanyanga, goes hand in hand with the album title praising my totem, the elephant, praising my Kwekwe roots and mentioning some of the greatest musicians with a similar background like the late Tongai Moyo,” said Saini.
The deep husky-voiced musician said he was back in Zimbabwe for good and he had recently met some musicians from Kwekwe and it pained him that there was great talent that lacked promotion.
“My music is based on my day- to-day experiences coming to the people as musical lessons from a social commentator,” added Saini.
He said Zimbabwean music was currently facing a serious crisis of artistes having nowhere to fruitfully sell their work.
Saini said there was need for musicians to unite and create a team of vendors who would sell their music on the streets for a fee.
“It’s not an easy industry, that’s why I have taken so long to release an album. One has to work to reach a certain level no matter how long it takes.
“Patience pays, it’s more than mere recording, you learn until you reach a certain level. I just took my work to Expresso in SA and they were impressed resulting in the SABC interview.”
