The Sunday Mail
Suluman “Sulu” Chimbetu’s long- awaited fifth album hits the streets this Wednesday, albeit on a low note.
Missing is the usual hype that has accompanied the musician’s previous album releases. Titled, “Gun Ship”, the 11-track effort comes after several postponements that have predictably dampened the fans’ spirits.
With dancehall music currently overshadowing every other genre in the country — can Sulu’s album awaken music fans’ interest in Dendera/Sungura music?
“There are millions of people that listen to our music. Those people have not gone anywhere, they are around and as soon as we release, we are certain our album will find plenty of listeners,” said Sulu.
The artiste, who has featured high-flying dancehall chanter Soul Jah Love, on one of his tracks, says he is not in music to compete but merely to complement others who are in the music business like him.
But for someone who has put an unprecedented 11 tracks on one album, Sulu seems like someone in panic mode and not sure of his product. His spokesperson, Joe Nyamungoma, disagrees. “Sulu does not stop composing. He has been creating new songs since the release of our last album, Syllabus. This is a reflection of two years of hard work and we did not even use all of them,” said Nyamungoma.
The pint-sized public relations manager of Sulu’s band, Orchestra Dendera Kings, said the market is theirs to take. “The nation does not even have to wait for long as November 26 (Wednesday) is around the corner. We will simply take over as we always do,” said Nyamungoma.
Nyamungoma says the album title, “Gun Ship”, was inspired by the late Simon Chimbetu’s moniker, Chopper.
“A Gun Ship is a chopper (helicopter) that is heavily armed and such is a true reflection of the album — it is loaded with ‘ammunition’. As you know Sulu also has a military background having served in the Air Force of Zimbabwe.”
The album carries 11 tracks namely “Nyuchi”, “Mr Bensen”, “Torai Mari”, “Musandisiye”, “Idah Nhoro”, “Phone”, “Hondo”, ”Chirongo”, “Skero”, “Moto” and an instrumental.
Award-winning dancehall chanter Soul Musaka, better known as Soul Jah Love, features on the song Nyuchi. The album touches on different themes including social commentary, celebratory songs and party songs.
The CDs are being produced in South Africa and Sulu has gone to great lengths to try and curb piracy.
