By Sindiso Dube
Obert Tongai Moyo Jnr says as much as he wants to work with his brother Peter, it’s a farfetched idea as their relationship is not cordial.
The two Moyo brothers are sons to the late sungura maestro Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo. The two use the same name Utakataka Express for their backing groups, though Obert suffixes 4X4 to the band’s name. The name was used by their late father, who passed on a decade ago.
The Moyo brothers’ feud and misunderstanding is centred on paternity questions and distribution of their late father’s estate.
Tongai Moyo Snr was a polygamist (with five customarily married wives) and he passed on 10 years ago after battling with cancer, leaving no will behind.
Among the assets making up the estate are a house in Mbizo, a stand in Sesombe on the outskirts of Kwekwe, two vehicles and a music kit currently being used by Peter.
In October when Peter and his family planned a commemoration gig for his father, Obert went on to organise his own commemoration gig on the other side. Last year Obert released a controversial song titled Cain and Abel, taken from the biblical scriptures where two siblings decided to make an offering to God in return for blessings, the deed ended up with Cain killing Abel.
Obert revealed that it would be great to have worked with Peter, but it was not possible for now.
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“Our relationship is stable. It’s not yet there like what you see with other families, we haven’t clicked much due to our past which hasn’t been that beautiful but still we are trying,” Obert said.
“If we were to collaborate with Peter it would be something great, but as of yet there are no such plans on the ground.
“However, you never know in the music industry. I might do a song that I feel needs Peter’s input and I will have to look for him, but for now there are no such plans of working together.”
Obert went on to dismiss rumours saying he was only in the music industry with the motive to fight Peter.
“Those people who think that I’m being used to fight Peter are not informed and don’t know me or have been close to me so that they know that I’m in music for life and I’m only doing music,” he said.
“Whenever I write my songs I don’t intend to harm my brother in any way and I don’t intend to mock him, but it’s just pure music.
“Those rumours that I’m using music to fight my brother, I love my brother and I respect him besides the differences we have, but I believe time will heal the wounds.”
Obert released a six track album titled Dhewa Wenyu last month, with tracks- Mbinga, Mai Moyo, Tsoka yerudo, Titambe Ngoma, Dhewa Venyu and Uriko.
“Dhewa venyu is my first song I have ever done, I wrote it when I was still in school in Form Four and I told myself that this will be my album title then,” he said.
“Having it being appreciated is a great achievement, it’s a dedication to my father and I am sure he is happy and proud of me wherever he is.
“I have managed to uphold my father’s legacy in terms of composing music, and my brother is also doing so on the other side.
“I have been topping radio charts and I am happy with the way people are receiving my music. It means that my father’s legacy is safe.”
Obert revealed that he was working on a new project dubbed Titanic.
- Follow Sindiso on Twitter @Sindora_ZW
