The Sunday Mail
In an industry that has a few new albums offering stiff competition, it comes as no surprise that tracks like “Chirongo”, “Musandisiye”, “Mr Benson” and “Phone” off Sulu’s Gunship have since started battling among themselves both on radio and clubs.
The other tracks that complete the 11-track album are “Moto”, “Nyuchi”, “Idah Nhoro”, “Hondo”, “Skero”, “Tora Mari” and “Idah Nhoro” (instrumental).
“Musandisiye”, is Sulu’s plea to friends, relatives and some of the country’s top prophets (Walter Magaya included), celebrities and personalities not to forsake him, he begs for tolerance.
The first of his collaborations on the new offering comes on the third track titled “Nyuchi” featuring top dancehall chanter Soul Jah Love. The track is about a bee giving the musician all sorts of trouble. The bee in the song is metaphor referring to real life problems that continue hovering around the dendera crooner.
“Moto” is an awareness track that looks at the dangers posed by veld fires. It was done with a bias towards “Kanindo”, a beat common in East Africa. In the track the dendera crooner highlights the plight the animal kingdom (tortoise, hare and snakes included) faces each time bushes are set on fire.
Just like Moto, “Skero” is again a campaign track but this time focusing on health. Child immunisation is the major message but at the same time addressing gender-based roles by urging men to be responsible in the upbringing of children. It’s centred on a wife pleading with the husband to pull his weight in dealing with the child health care issues.
Technology has literally taken over the globe. Social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and Viber now transcend boundaries. And in the danceable party track “Phone”, Sulu praises communication technologies indicating advantages of having latest gadgets.
It is the entrance of sungura musician; Somandla “Mafia” Ndebele on the last 30 seconds of the seven-minute song that further heightens the climax of the song.
“Idah Nhoro” has a jazzy feel. The collaboration is evocative of the Ringo/Tuku collaboration, “Into Yami”. The song thanks kind hearted people of this world that have taken it upon themselves to look after orphans. Throughout Tuku sings in Shona while Captain Sulu sings in Chewa. On “Chirongo” the Dendera musician seems to want to maintain controversy as was the case with “Sean Timba”.
The song identifies different professionals and how they benefit from their line of work. Lyrics on the song, however, have a sub-verse meaning that can mean anything depending on the agenda.
In line with the revolutionary spirit that characterised Simon’s compositions, the son proceeds to dedicate the song “Hondo” to both fallen and living heroes. The track starts with a laid back tempo that gradually peaks halfway through and is reminiscent of the late Chopper Chimbetu’s Pane Asipo.
“Mr Benson” is the result of that life-long dream, and in it, Sulu pays tribute to his late grandfather (Sekuru Benson). In this honour song, he beseeches the fallen family icon to help address squabbles that bedevil the family. The sought-after help is expected to come in the form of rain from a seething cloud. “Tora Mari” is a praise song about his band and the systems that they use to counter competition. He concludes the album with an instrumental.
