Zimbabwe Music Industry: Trailer Load of Deserters

LOYALTY is one characteristic that has disappeared in the music industry as band members have found it fashionable to frequently switch between groups in search of the proverbial greener pastures.

But in a majority of cases, the ‘‘disgruntled’’ band members have retraced their foot-steps with tails neatly tucked between the legs after realising that the grass is no better the other side.

Day-in-day-out we have headlines reading “Band member exodus looms at -” or “So-and-so re-joins -”

Reasons for abandoning bands have largely been attributed to poor remuneration and management. But what baffles the mind is what would have changed when the same deserters, within a short space of time, decide to re-join their old outfits under the same conditions (leadership and remuneration).

Critics are now of the view that the movements are just but mere marketing gimmicks by the so-called deserters as most of them quickly rush to the media after taking such moves.

It has become common for reporters to receive calls from disgruntled band members seeking coverage of their plans to desert their groups for various reasons.

Utakataka Express

Probably still fresh in the minds of many, Peter Moyo lost three band members namely talented bass guitarist Spencer Khumbulani, drummer Guyson Sixpense and charismatic chanter Gift “Shiga Shiga” Katulika to businessman-cum-musician Energy Mutodi in 2011, soon after the death of Tongai Moyo.

The trio made headlines as the issue was so contentious considering the way they decided to cross over. For their departure, the seasoned band members said, they found it hard to work with Peter as he was more on the arrogant side and that he was not duly rewarding them for their services. And just as Peter seemed to recover from the departure of the trio, a double exit, this time in the form of the vastly talented and long-serving lead guitarist Willard Loti and bass guitarist Savious Karikodzi hit him.

But two or so years later, under the same setting, Khumbulani and Sixpense have since rekindled their romance with the Kwekwe-based outfit, with reports indicating that Shiga Shiga is currently locked in meetings with Peter and his management for a possible return to the flamboyant outfit. The return of these deserters has, however, been cited by others as the reason why Loti and Karikodzi jumped ship in protest. One of the two (Loti and Karikodzi) is, nonetheless, understood to be on his way back.

Orchestra Mberikwazvo

The first time Alick Macheso was deserted, granted, band members had been drawn by the irresistible life of splendour and glamour of London at the turn of the millennium. Thomson Chauke, Rodgers Fatiya and Samuel Mugede remained in the Queen’s land. It then took 10 years for a repeat, which saw his biggest find, star dancer Francis “Franco” Dhaka, backing vocalist Elton Muropa and guitarist Noel Nyazanda leave to join Suluman “Sulu” Chimbetu’s Orchestra Dendera Kings in 2012. Reason(s) for departure: poor wages and ill-treatment by management led by William “Yellow” Tsandukwa.

While arts aficionados were still absorbing the near fatal blow, Nyazanda and Muropa ricocheted from their previous decision and rejoined Macheso under the same management and toil conditions. They made public statements arguing that they had made a mistake by leaving Macheso. The duo said, life without Macheso had proved difficult hence the decision to return. Nyazanda further added that Orchestra Mberikwazvo was home and he would not make a similar blunder in future. Slomo, however, remained resolute and vowed he would rather join even the smallest of groups in the country than work with Macheso again.

And just over a year after the band-threatening move and thinking the storm was over, the king of sungura received yet another lethal blow from the blind side. The ‘‘prodigal son’’ Nyazanda yet again led another group of deserters that included drummer Obert Gomba and chanter Jonas Kasamba. The trio went on to unite with Slomo who back then dumped Sulu to form the group Extra Kwazvose. Lead guitarist Donald Gogo, who was also part of the exodus plan, developed cold feet on the eleventh hour and decided to stay behind though he remained peeved.

“As you know, we have enemies as a band and that is why people make unfounded claims against us and plan to destroy our group from outside and within. What’s surprising though is the fact that all those that have left in the process making nasty claims against us have returned to the same environment months later,” Tsandukwa was once quoted as saying.

Apart from the aforementioned, Zakaria Zakaria has also played an on-off relationship with Orchestra Mberikwazvo. Innocent Mjintu has also left with no indications of the will to return.

Orchestra Dendera Kings

Since taking over as the leader of the Orchestra Dendera Kings, Sulu was to receive baptism of fire when four of his band members crossed the floor to his rival cousin Tryson Chimbetu’s group in 2011.

As in all the other cases, the quartet, namely Phillip Dzirike, Shacky Phiri, Wayne Kembo and Nyasha Mugari, deserted the Dendera crooner citing poor remuneration and differences with the then manager Knowledge Nkoma.

During that time, Sulu went on to eat in Macheso’s band as a counter move. He recruited Slomo, Nyazanda and Muropa. But Nyazanda and Muropa left after a short stint with the band as they failed to blend with the inimitable Dendera style, while Slomo merged well and soldiered on until he left after forming his own outfit (Extra Kwazvose).

As days progressed, Dzvirike, Kembo and Phiri later bounced back to Sulu’s band after Nkoma was demoted from being the manager.

Upon return, Dzirike said, he had reconsidered because his former boss, the late Simon “Chopper” Chimbetu, was visiting him in his dreams and telling him that he had betrayed a cause.

However, a few years after re-joining the popular Dendera outfit, the group was recently reported to have been threatened by yet another band member exodus with Phiri reportedly having already left the outfit. Reasons for the move have been cited as the same old.

Marxist Brothers

Financial squabbles that have seen Tryson Chimbetu failing to pay some of his supporting acts like Shiga on time have resulted in the group losing four band members in the past year.

The four – lead guitarist Tongogara “Papa Tongo” Munemo, dancer Tatenda Mhayo, a sound engineer and a security staffer left the band after going for months without getting paid and indications are that more members are willing to leave if they get alternative employment as conditions at the Dendera outfit continuously become unbearable.

Conversely, Tryson argues he fired the quartet for misconduct. And after making all sorts of claims against their leader, some of the deserters are understood to be presently negotiating their way back to the band.

Tryson’s previous efforts to embrace former Orchestra Dendera Kings absconders proved costly for his otherwise modest outfit. The former Sulu band members proved to be high-maintenance for the young Dendera musician.

Black Spirits

The band ditching syndrome has not spared anyone. Even senior music superstar Oliver Mtukudzi has gone through it.

In 2011 he lost four members of his Black Spirits backing band after failing to agree on pay and other working conditions with them. The band members included marimba player Charles Chipanga, backing vocalist Namatayi Chipanga, veteran bass guitarist Never Mpofu and drummer Simba Dembedza.

They were replaced by backing vocalist Winet Sarunete, Blessing Muparutsa (drums), Enock Piriro (bass guitar), Maxwell Chiwara (lead guitar) and Strovas Muswowe on percussion.

Muparutsa and Piroro were snapped up from Dudu Manhenga’s Color Blu. Four years before this purge, Tuku had shown six members of his outfit the exit door together with former manager Debbie Metcalfe.

Interesting though is the fact that of those that have left the Black Spirits, none has returned to have a dance with the superstar again.

Tuku seems to be a man who sticks by his guns and does not dither. It is only during the Tuku “Greatest Hits Concert” that he re-united with some of his former band members like the energetic Picky Kasamba.