Most probably, the crystal ball of the psychic who can connect with the yonder world would show a Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo who is smiling and sad at the same time.
Smiling because his son, Peter Moyo, whom he left behind on October 15, 2011 when he departed to the other world is gradually becoming a respectable musician.
But the sight of the sungura genre as it stands at the moment would surely make him sad.
Tongai aka Igwe significantly contributed to the growth and popularity of the genre by bringing pizzazz and swag to it. However, the fortunes of the genre are on the decline and its proponents appear clueless on how to save it from drowning.
If Dhewa was alive today, he would surely relish the challenge brought forth by Zim dancehall. A chuckle here, a smirk there and an out of this world little infectious statement might be all ‘the founder of strategy’ would have used to keep the shine in sungura.
Who has forgotten the whole country chanting, “Sisiii…Toita basa” or “New- system-new strategy…toleka (easy),”. It is now four years since this man of strong will and great charisma passed on but the void he left has proved difficult to fill.
Even sungura virtuoso Alick Macheso, who many say his game took a tumble at the demise of Dhewa since he was competitor who kept him on his toes, admits that the untimely departure of Murozvi Mukuru was a major blow, not only to his family but the music fraternity as well.
The sungura maestro openly admitted last year during the third edition of the Dhewa commemoration gig held in the capital that sungura was never going to be same for him without Dhewa. For a very long time, the two were viewed as foes.
However, the source of animosity remained a mystery.
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| Peter Moyo holds the photograph of his late father, Tongayi Moyo |
But fans were the ultimate beneficiaries of the “battle” which guaranteed a steady flow of new and quality material every year. Who has forgotten Macheso’s punch in “Ndezvashe”, which has the line, “Usavhundutsirwe nezizi kuti rine nyanga, hadzisi nyanga inzeve”.
Accordingly, Dhewa promptly responded in “Pinda Panyanga” singing, “Ini ndinoziva wani zizi harina nyanga asi kuti rakagara pamusoro penyanga,” in reference to his supposed takeover of the sungura reins.
In another song on “Muridzi Wenyaya” Dhewa chanted, “…eh-h imbwa yakafa kudhara chasara chete isign post, beware of the dog.”
This was after Macheso’s former chanter, Jonasi Kasamba had introduced his boss in a song as, “The best on top of the rest while others follow.”
And critics argue the death of this kind of competition is the reason why sungura now finds itself in a quagmire.
“We have talented budding musicians but sungura will never be the same without him (Tongai). He helped improve standards and I hope his son will be able to do the same,” said Macheso on the sidelines of the Dhewa commemoration gig last year.
Peter’s endorsement
Oozing with confidence from his recently released album “Mabasa aMwari”, the self-proclaimed ‘sungura messiah’, believes he is now in the groove to take sungura right back to the apex where his late father left it.
His baby steps are beginning to leave lasting imprints. Peter acknowledges that he will never be like Tongai but concedes that he has the stamina to up the stakes in the music industry.
“I will try and emulate the good things that my father used to do but one stubborn fact is that I will never be like him,” he said.
“I’m Tongai’s son but I want to build a brand, my own brand that will be associated with me even after my time. I’m not going to divert from my father’s founding principles but I’m going to modify them to suit my style. By so doing, I will become my own man and this is the only way for me to conquer.”
The return of Shiga-Shiga, Spencer Khumbulani and Willard Loti; the original founding members of Utakataka Express, coupled with a perfected art on stage has helped spur the group’s rating. Promoters are literally scrambling for the group’s signature as attendance figures for their gigs are swelling with each passing day.
Adds Peter: “I already anticipated some of the challenges I have faced and continue facing since my father warned me about them on his death bed. In short, I usually have a response to every predicament that I face.”
The Young Igwe’s success story has seen him getting thumps-up from the City Sports bar proprietors. He has been tasked with an enviable burden of officially opening the traditional home of sungura on November 6.
The venue which now has state-of-the-art equipment and furniture had been closed for renovations.
“It will be a special day hence we decided to look for an artiste that is riding high in the sungura genre and we could not look further than Utakataka Express. Next month will mark the return of the popular sungura venue — City Sports bar — and Peter will be the man to lead the come back,” said the joint proprietor, Lawrence Chinoperekwei.
Grippingly, the joint was one of the last two places that Dhewa made public appearances on stage. lt was at the downtown joint that he officially left Peter under the care of dendera musician Suluman “Sulu” Chimbetu. His very last appearance was at Harare Gardens.
“…God has unforeseeable plans for everyone. Today I’m handing over Peter to Sulu in almost the same way Simon (Chimbetu) left his son (Sulu) to me. I hope he is going to be a good brother and mentor,” said a distraught Dhewa back then.
Remembering Dhewa
The event has become an annual gig that most music followers look forward to every year.
But unlike in the previous years when the gigs were only held in Harare Gardens and in Kwekwe, this time around the commemorations are spread across the country.
Also, there is a change in the artistes participating in the event, a phenomenon that Peter attributes to fans. Nonetheless, there has been complains on the selection of the hosting venues. Some feel a central venue like Harare Gardens, which is also conducive for family outings, should never be substituted. After all, it has attracted thousands of fans in the last three editions of the Dhewa commemorations.
“We had to adopt a new strategy for the commemoration gigs. Therefore we had to bring in new faces to perform while at the same time spreading the gig around the country. Yes, Harare Gardens is a convenient venue for families in the capital but they are some of our fans that cannot access the place and we shall be going to them,” explained Peter.
“This is the concept we will be using henceforth. Venues and performing artistes will be constantly rotated so that all our fans get a chance to be part of the event.”
Gogo Chihera and family issues
While confusion and squabbles among Tongai’s family, friends and band members characterised the immediate days and months after Igwe’s demise, a voice of reason seems to have quickly pacified the warring parties that threatened the future of Utakataka Express.
The Moyo family that relies on the group for sustenance would also have suffered ultimately. Igwe’s mother, Gogo Esther Vhengeya (82) better known as Gogo Chihera revealed to The Sunday Mail Leisure in an interview that since the passing on of his son, life had changed for the better under Peter’s care, not the “expected” bad.
Gogo Chihera who is an asthma patient said the Young Igwe has so far been able to take care of her day-to-day needs, together with that of other family members that were left in his custody by his father.
Tongai had six known children with Peter being the eldest, followed by Nyasha, Tanaka, Nicole, Tongai Junior aka Obert and Natasha. Add to this, Peter also looks after nine children that were left behind by his late uncle John, eight kids from his father’s sister and four grandchildren that are staying with his grandmother.
Furthermore, he is responsible for the welfare of some of the children from his mother’s side where he grew up before moving in with Tongai.
“I have no grumble. Peter has done a lot for me. I think he has matched and surpassed what his father used to do despite having a number of families to look after. I wish for God to bless him so that he gets more resources to carry on with the good work he is doing,” remarks Gogo Chihera.
And reports reveal that the Kwekwe-based musician spends thousands of dollars on school fees every term.
“…I have more than 20 children under my care and my school fees budget for every school term is pegged at around US$2 000, that is excluding other factors like medical bills that I also take care of.
“I sometimes feel strained but I have no choice but to push hard. My only source of income has been music. But I have a plot where I’m undertaking projects that have helped me generate some extra cash, at the same time creating employment for some of my relatives,” said the Young Igwe.
But while Gogo Chihera still maintains her presence in the rural areas, she is now more of an urbanite. There have been plans to have her permanently settle in Kwekwe so that she gets proper and reliable medical care. However, she is sternly rejecting the offer.
“Brilliant (son to Tongai’s sister) and his wife take care of her in the rural area but we want her to come and stay in Kwekwe. The move is proving difficult though. You know how it is nechembere, she comes here for a month or so and the next moment she is telling you rega ndimbono dongorera mombe dzangu.”
Relocating to Harare
Before Tongai’s death, there was rumour that the Midlands virtuoso was in search of a house in the capital with the intention of abandoning the mining town. The same rumours have also begun hovering around the son. But the Young Igwe has this to say:
“I won’t leave Kwekwe. In fact, I have never entertained any thoughts of relocating. Midlands is my province. I will visit any other place on private and official business but at the end of the day, I will return to my roots.” The Sunday Mail Entertainemnt , Headlines
