The Sunday Mail
LIFE after Alick Macheso’s Orchestra Mberikwazvo is tough. Just ask the former band members that deserted the group unceremoniously.
Most are surviving from hand-to-mouth, and today we zero-in on the lives of the deserters who formed the group Extra Kwazvose before it split in 2014.
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A series of bad decisions and miscalculation have come back to haunt and torment former Orchestra Mberikwazvo and Extra Kwazvose lead guitarist Noel “Nowero” Nyazanda.
(From left) Franco Slomo Dhaka, Obert Gomba, Jonas Kasamba and Noel Nyazanda
The veteran guitarist, who has in the last decade band-hopped in search of the proverbial greener pastures, has hit the equally proverbial hard times. With no stable income, Nyazanda has hit rock bottom and is drilling deeper down.
Granted, the obtaining economic environment is tough, but it appears the former Orchestra Mberikwazvo and Extra Kwazvose guitarist is to blame for the predicament he finds himself in.
Reports reaching this publication indicate the guitarist is struggling to fulfil his fatherly obligations that include settling various bills among them rates and school fees.
Furthermore the information suggests he is in the process of relocating to his rural home, Banket, with the intention of letting out his Chitungwiza home.
An introvert, Nyazanda did open up about the situation he is grappling with as he fends for his wife and four kids (three girls and a boy). Three of the children are still going to school.
“Life is a bit tough for me at the moment. I presently don’t have a steady source of income hence I’m carrying out piece jobs that come my way. My family is now big and I have to make sure that they are well looked after,” he says.
“I have not been on stage for commercial purposes for a long time though I still hope to make a comeback since I’m open to (working) with anyone. I hope you understand when I say I cannot tell exactly what I’m doing for a living.”
On him relocating to his rural home, Nyazanda is vague.
“I’m fighting to make sure that my family gets to have food on the table. I have a house in Unit L (Chitungwiza) and they are with me. In short, zvinhu zvakaoma but I’m surviving.”
In 2012, Nyazanda, Elton Muropa and Franco “Slomo” Daka, dumped sungura king Alick Macheso in favour of Suluman Chimbetu’s Orchestra Dendera Kings, citing poor working conditions as the reason for their move. Nyazanda and Muropa quickly retraced their steps the following year after failing to gel into the dendera outfit. Macheso welcomed them back.
And just as it seemed the dust was settling, Nyazanda — this time around with fellow Orchestra Mberikwazvo band members Jonas Kasamba and Obert Gomba — abandoned ship and linked up with Slomo to form Extra Kwazvose aka the Rebels in 2013. Again they cited poor remuneration among their reasons for leaving.
But Extra Kwazvose split a year later after releasing “Ndizvo Zviripo” (2013) and “Zvepasi Rino” (2014).
There were reports that Nyazanda sought a move to Tendai Dembo’s Barura Express, as well as a possible reunion with Macheso. Nothing came of the reports.
“I, together with Jonasi, went to Macheso in search of employment since I’m not currently attached and things are not flowing according to plan. He did not approach us as some are saying, we went to him but he appears uninterested in engaging our services again,” concedes Nyazanda.
Spending sleepless nights trying to make ends meet probably reminds him of lyrics from “Ziva Zvaunoda” a song off Macheso’s “Zvido Zvenyu Kunyanya”.
Nyazanda played the pulsating lead chords on that track.
His counterparts — perhaps minus Gomba — also find themselves between a hard rock and a hard place.
Close sources reveal Kasamba is laden with hospital bills as he too does not have a guaranteed income. The little that he gets comes from Xtreme Afrique Choir (managed by Lyton Ngolomi) and sympathisers.
Kasamba will not say what is going on: “I’m with the church choir and doing my thing. I will have to talk to you later. I can’t say some things at the moment. Please bear with me.”
Slomo, still with his Extra Kwazvose, also faces challenge after challenge. After the departure of the founding members, the group further split — not once, but twice. A third album (“Zvipo Zvedu”) is not exactly bringing in the dollars whether by sales or attracting gigs.
“Our shows outside the capital are always oversubscribed. I think it is our detractors that are claiming that all is not well within our camp,” says a defiant Franco.
“We are going to release two singles before Christmas titled ‘Tiringe Nzira’ and ‘Muvengi’ to show that we are still in the groove. People have never been happy about this project and they continue sponsoring its downfall. Some are even extending counter-offers to my band members.”
Among the rebels, it seems it is only Gomba who has found his footing.
The drummer, now a fulltime member of Victory Power International Ministries, has opened a school of drumming in Chitungwiza and is set to launch a new DVD.
“I have opened Obert Gomba School or Drums and the institution has been operating for the past three months. Apart from this school, you can also find me at church. Gospel music is where my heart now belongs and we have just finished recording a new DVD,” he says.
Gomba is the brains behind the annual “Drum Festival” and says the event will be held next February.
“We are moving the festival from the traditional venue (Volt, formerly Book Café) to a bigger venue. There is a sponsor who wants to partner us but I will only be able to disclose the name when we finalise on certain aspects.”
