The Sunday Mail
Chopper Chimbetu
August 14, 2015 marks a decade since the master of song Simon “Chopper” Chimbetu went to the big band in the sky.
Unlike in 2014, this year Chopper’s life and contribution in the music industry and liberation struggle will be celebrated amid peace in the Chimbetu family.
The dendera brand that Simon and his brother Naison created has had many family members feeding from it – many of them rubbing each other up the wrong way.
Suluman, Tryson and Douglas Chimbetu thus far appeared intent on staving off all attempts at reconciliation, something decidedly at a tangent with Choppers’ principle of unity.
However, maturity seems to have found a place in the minds of feuding cousins Suluman and Tryson, sons of the late Simon and Naison, respectively.
Usually, a single gig involving all the musically-inclined Chimbetu’s under “Dendera United” celebrated the life of the icon.
But last year separate gigs were held.
However, this year the family is set to re-unite on stage for the “Simon Chimbetu Commemoration Gig” on August 16 in Harare.
Before the gig, the Chimbetu family will gather for a dinner on August 14, where top business executives and senior politicians are expected to attend.
In an interview last week, patriarch Allan Chimbetu said he was happy with the progress made so far. Simon tried to keep the family united, using his earnings to ensure all were well taken care of.
That task has fallen on Allan’s shoulders, and he has had his work cut out for him.
“The family is still intact and that is something to celebrate. I’m happy that the youngsters are now reading from the same page. Quarrels are not peculiar to the Chimbetu family. Even in the Bible, we have brothers like Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau that used to fight. In short I’m happy that the family is now united,” he said.
Allan said the family cherished the patriotic standards Chopper set. Simon, who was bestowed with liberation war hero status, was instrumental in composing songs that criticised settler oppression.
Inspired by Marxist ideas, he got involved in the fledgling liberation struggle and went as far as Tanzania to train with nationalist fighters there.
Simon provided morale boosts through his music but did not go to the war front.
“People know that Chopper was an artiste whose ideologies were in line with that of the ruling party. His liberation goals are the ones we hold to date. As we celebrate the heroes’ holiday and his life, we also use the time to take stock of our actions, that is if we are still in line with his principles,” affirmed Allan.
He added: “Chopper was like my father. I know that he was part of the liberation struggle but I don’t know the exact roles he played. I was very young during the time.”
Allan, a member of Prophet Walter Magaya’s Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries, expressed his wish for the Chimbetus to seek divine intervention.
Suluman, or Sulu, acknowledged that things had changed for the better.
“The road has been rocky but I’m glad we are getting there. Of paramount importance is the fact that my siblings and I are pushing forward the work that our old men (Simon and Naison) left for us. The more we unite the more the dendera brand grows,” said Sulu.
“(This week) on Friday, we will be having a dinner as part of the Simon Chimbetu Commemorations to be held over the weekend. The event will be attended by senior Government officials and various corporate players and all Chimbetu family members are invited.”
Tryson, who credited Chopper for paying his school fees, sang the same tune.
“We never fought but only had different views. However, we no longer have misunderstandings since we have come to appreciate and acknowledge each others differences. Age has helped us overcome some of these challenges. And as the Marxist Brothers, we will be joining the Chopper Commemorations,” remarked Tryson.
In a career spanning more than two decades, the enterprising and illustrious son of the soil Chopper produced more than 10 solo albums, giving the world numerous hits among them “Samatenga”, “One Way”, “Pane Asipo”, “Chauta”, “Zuva Raenda”, “Hoko”, “Africa Inaliya”, “Mudzimai” and “Dzandipedza Mafuta”.
Years after his death, his music continues to inspire. Simon was known to be a resilient character. The only blight to his otherwise career came when he was incarcerated for receiving stolen property. The four years spent in a correctional facility from 1989 did not dampen his spirit, rather it made him soul-search.
He came back an even more powerful force.
After his release, he immediately shot to the top with “Pachipamwe”. The song “Saina” off the album is still a favourite of many at weddings and social gatherings.
Chimbetu’s songs are distinguished by a political conscious message and a deep, booming bass guitar.
In the budding stages of his career, Chopper teamed up with his sibling Naison to form the Marxist Brothers, with whom he penned a number of great songs that include “Mwana Wedangwe”, “Boterekwa”, “Kunjere Kunjere” and “Dendera Resango”. The two split in 1988.
Simon formed the Orchestra Dendera Kings while Naison went on to form the G7 Commandos.
Before the agrarian reforms of 2000, Chopper had already released “Zuva Raenda” from the album “Survival”. The song laments the delay in redistributing the land to the black majority.
Before venturing into full-time music, he worked at a tobacco processing company and outside music circles, he preferred being called Mr Simon Benson.
Born on September 23, 1955, Chopper died in 2005 and was buried in Chinhoyi.
