The Sunday Mail
It seems the dreaded January disease has a cure after all — but only if you are Suluman “Sulu” Chimbetu.
While several artistes are taking a break to give band members a much-needed rest and music fans time to recover financially, Sulu is filling up venues.
The dendera music crooner, who recently released his fifth album “Gunship”, is packing the fans in and taking home the elusive green back while just about everyone else reels from the annual January bankruptcy.
His sold-out show at Dandaro Inn in Harare last weekend seemed like a fluke, but repeats at Mandy’s Place, Rangers Gardens and Big Apple certified him as the real deal.
This afternoon he takes his act to Southerton’s Club Las Vegas in the capital for a family show, where he is set to continue spreading the dendera gospel.
With the closure of Mega 1 open air joint and a ban on live performances at Harare Gardens, Las Vegas is now the premier family events place.
This will be Sulu’s first family show this year.
The Sunday Mail Leisure caught up with Sulu’s publicist Joe Nyamungoma at one of the recent shows in the capital.
The spokesperson explained that they would have loved to take a rest like everyone else this January. But there is always a but. And this one is a good one.
“A rest would have rejuvenated the band, but demand for our services right now does not allow for that.
“The new album has forced us to do this because people want to listen to the new music at live shows. We cannot let the people down —if music is what they want then we will give it to them,” said Nyamungoma.
In an industry that has a few new albums offering stiff competition, it comes as no surprise that tracks like “Nyuchi”, “Chirongo”, “Musandisiye”, “Mr Benson” and “Phone” off Sulu’s “Gunship” are battling among themselves both on radio and clubs.
The 11-track album, rich in lyrical content and laden with a flair of next generation dendera beats, some fast while some slow — grows on the listening ear, becoming a part of one’s life.
Like wine, Sulu is maturing.
With every album the dendera crooner, son of the late great Simon “Chopper” Chimbetu, has developed a distinct character.
Other children of late musicians continue to struggle to find their feet while Sulu competes with the finest in the country.
One wonders, what makes this 32-year-old ex-military man tick.
It is definitely not sympathy, because basing one’s music career on sympathy is a suicidal gamble — ask the likes of the Dembo brothers (Morgan and Tendai) and Peter “Young Igwe” Moyo.
In terms of branding, Sulu’s brand is one of the most sought-after by companies as he has managed to land some of the most lucrative deals doled out locally.
He is a brand ambassador for Savanna Tobacco, Alpha Omega, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, Corporate 24, Vaseline, Population Services International, Royco, Zimbabwe National Road Administration and the Zimbabwe Amalgamated Housing Association, to name just a few.
His band is one of the most professional outfits around, with a band manager, a tour manager and a spokesperson. He even maintains a business office in Avondale.
