The Sunday Mail
Prince Mushawevato
Features and Arts Editor
Saturday will mark exactly 16 years since the master of song, Simon “Chopper” Chimbetu, departed for the yonder world.
Over the years, his family has successfully held commemoration gigs to honour the fallen music legend.
It will be the same case this time around.
The Simon Chimbetu commemoration concert dubbed “The Music Lives” will be held virtually on August 14 on Nash TV.
However, the planned gig is somewhat exposing fissures within the family.
A single gig involving all the musically inclined Chimbetus has been used to celebrate the life of the late legendary icon. The concept was highly successful last year.
But this time around, Simon’s son Suluman, affectionately known as Sulu, and his backing group Orchestra Dendera Kings have decided to exclude other family members.
“ . . . the idea to invite guest artistes is a unique and fresh way of celebrating the great Dendera crooner. Chimbetu left a huge mark in the music industry, so having guests coming to sing his songs is one way that we can celebrate his legacy across all genres,” Orchestra Dendera Kings spokesperson Carlton Muparutsa recently told our sister paper The Chronicle.
Sulu will share the stage with artistes that include sungura king Alick Macheso, Roki, Pitshou Lumiere, Diana “Mangwenya” Samkange, Jean Masters and Jah Signal.
All the singers will be backed by Sulu’s band and will sing Simon’s songs.
The last time an almost similar phenomenon took place was in 2014 when separate Chopper commemorative gigs were lined up by different Chimbetu family members.
While neutrals see no problem in the setup, Allan Chimbetu — the only surviving father figure of the family — notes this is a clear sign of disunity.
“I wasn’t informed about this gala and I am not part of it. Clearly, there is no unity in our family,” bemoaned Allan.
The Dendera brand that Simon and his brother Naison created has had many family members and even outsiders feeding from it.
In fact, there is a fierce battle of supremacy, especially among family members, and this is creating serious hostility.
But Chopper, who was known for unifying the family, must be turning in his grave.
Is Allan failing the task to unite the family?
“I will do something that includes every family member to honour our fallen legend and others.
“The family knows my position as the head and what I said during last year’s commemoration gig stands,” he said.
The soft-spoken Allan was not done.
“When we honour any of our fallen legends, be it Simon, Naison or Briam, every family member should be involved.
“We were making strides towards unity but this is a serious setback. Sulu might come up with a ‘unique’ concept, but, still, everyone should be part of the proceedings. That is what family is about!” added Allan.
Naison’s son and Sulu’s cousin, Tryson Chimbetu, is indifferent.
“I will follow whatever the elders say. They are the ones that organise these events. If I am invited, I will perform, and if they exclude me, it is still fine.
“I will not bother to find out why I have been left out,” said Tryson.
A fan weighed in to support Sulu’s move.
“I don’t think there is a problem. Sulu can do as he pleases. Simon was his father and he is using his own resources. Besides, we need such innovation to keep the event interesting,” said Tinashe.
But others hold a different view.
“Simon was selfless. What we are seeing in the current Chimbetu family, especially towards the annual memorial, is disheartening.
“Honestly, how do we have outsiders on the poster when the family has gifted singers that can carry the day? Unreasonable competition among them is creating this mess,” Takura Dera said.
In a career spanning more than two decades, the enterprising and illustrious Chopper produced more than 10 solo albums, giving the world hits like “Samatenga”, “One Way”, “Pane Asipo”, “Chauta”, “Zuva Raenda”, “Hoko”, “Africa Inaliya”, “Mudzimai” and “Dzandipedza Mafuta”.
Years after his death, his music continues to inspire many.
Born on September 23, 1955, Chopper — a liberation war hero — died in 2005 at the age of 50 and was buried in Chinhoyi.
Before venturing into full-time music, he worked at a tobacco processing company.
Outside music circles, he preferred being called Mr Simon Benson.
In the early stages of his career, Chopper teamed up with his sibling Naison to form the Marxist Brothers, with whom he penned a number of great albums that include “Mwana Wedangwe”, “Boterekwa”, “Kunjere Kunjere” and “Dendera Resango”.
Part of his discography as a solo artiste includes “Karikoga”, “Nguva Yakaoma”, “Lullaby”, “Pachipamwe”, “Ndouraiwa”, “Survival”, “African Panorama” (Chapters One and Two), “Zuva Raenda”, “2000 Blend”, “Takabatana”, “Hoko” and “10 Million Pounds Reward”, which was his last offering.
