The Sunday Mail
Dennis Chimanzi
TRIBUTES are pouring in for the late Gil Pinto, a Mozambican artiste who contributed significantly to the development of sungura and chimurenga music in Zimbabwe and in his home country.
Pinto, who breathed his last in Mozambique some seven years ago at the age of 66, left behind a legacy that is being cherished by both Zimbabweans and Mozambicans.
The musician died on Easter Sunday.
Hailing from the Mozambican border town of Manica, Pinto sang in Shona and his songs made it to the Zimbabwean music chart shows.
Among his outstanding tracks is “Kwio” and “Mbombwe”, which both received generous airplay on Zimbabwean radio stations.
Pinto, on several occasions, performed live in Zimbabwe.
As a gesture of appreciation, local sungura musicians are dedicating their Easter holiday shows to him. They are being held under the theme “In Remembrance of Gil Pinto”.
Sungura musician Taruvinga “Sugar Sugar” Manjokota described Pinto as a legend, whose contribution to local music is often underestimated.
“He was, in a way, my mentor, friend and source of inspiration. On several occasions, I performed live with him here in Zimbabwe and Mozambique,” Manjokota said.
“Gil Pinto was a legend; he played a very big role for the sungura genre to be so loved here in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. His songs made our fans fall in love with him and we ended up being friends.”
Nicholas “Madzibaba” Zacharia also paid tribute to the musician.
“He was a legend, whose music cut across borders. When I went to perform in Mozambique, he was there for me and he helped me penetrate the Mozambican music scene,” Zacharia said.
Simon Mutambi, another sungura artiste, said he was inspired by the late musician.
“Before I recorded my first album, I used to rehearse using Pinto’s songs. My debut album, ‘Zvinotyisei’ was heavily influenced by his beat,” Mutambi said.
Alick Macheso’s publicist, Tich Makahamadze, said Zimbabwean and Mozambican artistes are brothers and sisters, who have a lot in common.
“These commemorations are befitting. Pinto’s influence transcended borders. As a sungura artiste, he was an inspiration to many local musicians.”
Other local musicians who shared the stage with Pinto include the late John Chibadura, Tedious Matsito and Oliver Mtukudzi.
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