The Sunday Mail
Peter Moyo on stage – Picture by Kudakwashe Hunda
Last week The Sunday Mail Leisure carried a story in which Zimdancehall star Ricky Fire said “sungura was a thing of the past”. But firebrand sungura musician Peter Moyo, who releases his second album on September 4 has come out guns blazing, telling Prince Mushawevato that this remains the genre of choice in Zimbabwe.
“My forthcoming album will not only prove my worth, it will also show that sungura is still alive and has not been eclipsed,” Peter Moyo boldly declares.
The Kwekwe-based musician’s second album, “Mabasa aMwari”, comes out in two week’s time, and he asserts that he is no longer an upstart – he is ready to mount the summit.
Peter, aka Young Igwe, says he has learnt much in the past few years and does not expect any form of competition from the current crop of sungura musicians, the king (Alick Macheso) included.
Many music fans say sungura suffered with the passing on of Peter’s father Tongai Moyo in 2011. Affectionately known as Igwe, Tongai and Alick Macheso competed bitterly and pushed sungura to dizzy heights.
That ended in 2011, when Macheso was left to run the show.
That could be about to change. The Sunday Mail Leisure has listened to Young Igwe’s imminent release and it looks like sungura has found its messiah.
Young Igwe’s decision to re-hire the original Utakataka Express, who abandoned ship with the death of founder Tongai, is paying dividends.
From the opening track to the very last song, one is kept foot-thumping with Spencer Khumbulani’s guitar wizardry and Gift “Shiga Shiga” Katulika’s periodic comic and stimulating interventions.
Peter Moyo has surely upped his game.
His once galling vocals, though not yet perfect, are now in sync. The musician has, indeed, been working hard.
The million dollar question is: will Peter’s effort revive sungura’s waning fortunes?
“This album is a game changer. On ‘Mushonga Mukuru’ I was clueless. But with this product I bet I have come up with ammunition that cannot be stopped. I gave my best shot on ‘Mabasa aMwari’ and I’m sure every music follower is going to like it,” predicts Peter.
“With this product, I can safely say sungura is back in business. In fact, it is what sungura fans were waiting for. I will need every other artiste in the country to combine their effort for them to match the standards I have set on this one.”
To ensure the album takes off smoothly, Young Igwe has lined up several shows in almost every province.
On August 21 he shares the stage with Botswana’s Slizer and Frank Lesokwane aka Franco at Aquatic Complex in Chitungwiza.
Intriguingly, that gig features king of sungura Macheso, who is also marketing his forthcoming album.
On August 22, the same line-up plus Progress Chipfumo will travel to Zvishavane for a gig at Caravan Park, before winding up that weekend with a show a family show at Harare Gardens the next day with gospel singer Blessing Shumba.
“I’m not leaving anything to chance. The album is going to be officially launched early next month but before that we are going to take it to the people. In some of the shows I will be rubbing shoulders with the best and it will be an opportunity to prove a point or two with regards to our new material,” Peter says.
The musician says the poor turnout at sungura shows is not a result of dancehall gaining ground, but rather that sungura artistes are failing to quench fans’ thirst.
And, he notes, Zimdancehall gigs are largely attended by youths who were never part of the sungura core.
“Sungura is a constituency that has loyal fans. Don’t be misled – we did not lose our fans to Zimdancehall. Sungura fans were no longer coming to shows because the market had nothing new. Old concepts, monotony and half-baked products were affecting the brand. Utakataka has, however, come to address that. It is now an issue of new system, new strategy. Sungura will return to the apex,” adds Peter.
“Sungura gigs are usually attended by the who-is-who of this country yet that is rare for any other genre, and that should tell you a lot.”
Rising producer Munyaradzi “Vialy” Viya of Vialy Studios, who worked with Peter on the project, is also singing from the same hymn-book.
He believes brighter days are coming for Young Igwe in particular and sungura in general.
“(Peter) was serious from the onset. Before recording, he paid for voice training lessons, which I took him through. We added to what he had already learnt from Baba Charamba the previous year,” reveals Viya.
“I must admit, though, that we had challenges but in the end it came out well. I think this album will do well and is certainly going to be a brand new and exciting chapter for Peter. It’s way better than his first effort.”
Viya is credited with producing hits for Suluman Chimbetu, Jah Prayzah and Tocky Vibes among others.
Songs from “Mabasa aMwari” that are expected to do the trick for the Young Igwe include “Samasimba”, “Mavanga”, “Rudo Pasina”, “Mhosva Dzemadzinza”, “Domestic Violence” and one featuring Slizer titled “Pasina Mari”.
