The Sunday Mail
Mtandazo Dube and Prince Mushawevato
Some people say Alick Macheso’s game has suffered since the death of his great Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo, a tough competitor who kept him on his toes.
Of course, Cheso Power would never say he is on the wane, but he does acknowledge that the demise of “Murozvi mukuru” has left local music much poorer.
In an interview at a successful Dhewa Commemoration gig in the capital last week, Macheso said sungura music had not been the same in the past three years. For a long time the two were fierce competitors and believed to be real foes.
The source of animosity remained a mystery: while some said their beef was women-related, others were of the view that it had more to do with the duo’s battle for sungura supremacy.
The two never tried to clarify matters and they mastered the art of giving vague responses when quizzed on the issue. One thing many agree on, though, is that their rivalry spurred sungura album sales and concert attendances to heights not seen today.
“I would never create a feud of any sort with Tongai to boost my music fortune. Our relationship dates back to a very long time back and remained the same from the day we met till the time of his death,” he said at the commemorative gig. “We have talented budding musicians, but sungura will never be the same without him. He helped improve standards and I hope his son will be able to do the same.”
Macheso again insisted that the so-called bad blood between him and Dhewa was a media creation.
The two had numerous public fallouts, including that 2007 incident in which Cheso walked away with four Zima awards in categories the two musicians were both nominated in; and Dhewa accused organisers of being biased and taking sides in the “war”.
In a moment of rage, Dhewa threatened to withdraw from all future awards ceremonies.
And in the following months, the two would not greet each other or share a stage. Their songs became laden with “diss” lines.
First to throw a punch was Macheso in the album Ndezvashe, which had this line: “Usavhundutsirwe nezizi kuti rinenyanga, hadzisi nyanga inzeve”.
Dhewa promptly responded in his following production Pinda Papanyanga, saying; “Ini ndinoziva wani zizi harina nyanga asi kuti rakagara pamusoro penyanga,” in reference to his supposed takeover of the sungura reins.
In another song Macheso referred to himself as the ultimate leader “…on top of the rest while others follow”. And Moyo, typically, responded with “Get ready Utakataka is now overtaking, it is now four-way”.
“A lot of things that were said about me and Dhewa were wrong. Actually the media created the so-called animosity between us. As far as I’m concerned we were in good books and never at any time did we have a beef.
“He was a good friend and I always cherish the moments we spent together. I could have not come for this show (Dhewa Commemoration Gig) since I had already been booked for another event, but I’m here because of the love I had for the man,” said Macheso.
