The Sunday Mail
BARURA Express frontman, Tendai Dembo, has engaged the services of veteran instrumentalists in a bid to improve the group’s fortunes, The Sunday Mail Leisure can reveal.
Faced with stiff competition and failure to breakthrough, the late Leonard “Musorowenyoka” Dembo’s son is trying every trick in the book to win followers back to the once revered outfit.
Information obtained by this publication shows that former Utakataka Express drummer-cum-backing vocalist Musaope Nkoma has already joined Barura Express on a full time basis.
The other two, former Orchestra Mberikwazvo guitarists Noel Nyazanda and Innocent Mjintu, have been practicing with and frequenting the band’s shows.
Tendai’s negotiations with the two (Nyazanda and Mjintu) are yet to be finalised but sources reveal the deals are as good as done.
And the coming on board of the talented men is expected to boost morale in the struggling musician’s camp as well as improve the quality of music produced by the outfit.
Following the demise of Musorowenyoka in 1996, Barura Express has released two albums – “Kutsika Matsimba” (2013) and “Kupa Kwashe” (2014). However, this has not helped much in improving their rating on the music charts.
The group remains at the periphery of action despite exuding great potential.
In an interview last week, Nkoma who is one of the founding members of Utakataka Express, said he had made a conscious decision and was happy to join Tendai. He added that he was confident the young lad, with proper assistance, would make it to the top.
Nkoma notes that it is going to be easy for him to work with the musician given that he has familiarity with the sort of music Barura Express plays.
“I don’t have pressure. In fact, it is a challenge on my part to make sure that my contribution helps raise the group’s brand to the levels that it deserves to be. I came in to help the young man and I’m going to do that,” declared the veteran drummer.
“I’m sure that in the coming weeks or so we will be having some new but senior guys coming in to beef-up our team.”
Nkoma revealed that he was now in his third month with Barura Express.
But history has taught us that the so-called “veterans” are usually architects of unrest in many outfits.
They sometimes demand more than what the group or the band leader can afford. This has consequently led to very nasty divorces with Extra Kwazvose’s case being a recent example.
Yet Nkoma argues he is not a hothead but only expects to be respected.
“I don’t mind the age of the person that I work under. The key thing is for us to respect each other.
Thus, as long as there is mutual respect, we will go a long way,” he said adding, “Music is all about team work. Nothing can stop us from growing the Barura Express brand to the levels it was during the time of Leonard Dembo.”
Nyazanda, who is still nursing wounds caused by the acrimonious split of Extra Kwazvose, a group he helped form, was rather vague with regards to his way forward.
The talented lead guitarist said he was still weighing options before putting ink to paper.
Nonetheless, he did not rule out the possibility of joining Barura Express.Ironically, Nyazanda was replaced by Devine Muzenda when he left Orchestra Mberikwazvo. And Muzenda was poached by sungura maestro Alick Macheso from Barura Express.
“I had taken a break after the split of Extra Kwazvose since I did not see it proper to jump from one band to another. But Tendai came to me with a proposal that I am currently looking at. And considering that I’m not working on anything, I don’t see any problem in joining him. It’s just that there are issues that I want to be certain with first,” remarked Nyazanda.
“Tindo (Tendai) is a fine and understanding young man and working with him will certainly not be an issue or challenge for me.”
Fiery rhythm guitarist, Mjintu, who happens to be an original member of Barura Express, has had an on and off relationship with the ensemble. Moreover, followers of the group have always marveled each time he joins Tendai on stage.
But the rhythm guitarist’s attention has been divided between his former outfit (Barura Express) and Zare, which he formed and left for his son in search of the proverbial greener pastures.
“I have been assisting him with his shows though I also have other interests. In short, working with Tendai is not a new thing to me,” said Mjintu.
Tendai confirmed that he has been in talks with the aforesaid instrumentalists. “The guys will bring stability to the band.
However, it is important to note that no one is going to lose his job. The guys I have are doing well but they will learn a lot from the veterans. I feel I should further strengthen the team so that we regain the group’s lost pride,” said Tendai.
Barura Express fans, however, argue that the move will not bring much change. They believe Tendai should also engage the services of his elder brother Morgan, who is vocally gifted, compared to him.
Morgan was fired from the group a year or so ago due to his wayward behaviour that is motivated by his undying love for the bottle.
