Sundaymail Editor
Society Reporter
NOMADIC rhythm guitarist Innocent Mjintu (pictured right) has rejoined Barura Express amid sensational claims he is being haunted by the spirit of the late sungura maestro, Leonard Dembo.
Mjintu, who helped define Barura Express in the 1980s, left the group over two decades ago following Dembo’s death.
He subsequently had stints with Alick Macheso’s Orchestra Mberik wazvo and Energy Mutodi’s group – Mutodi Express.
Upon leaving Orchestra Mberikwa zvo, he formed Zimbabwe African Rhythm Experts, or simply Zare.
However, the project went bust. “I could not continue with the Zare pro ject. Currently, I am working with Morgan and Tendai Dembo at Barura Express.
After releasing five albums with Zare, I felt the project was not worth the while,” said the “Ndafunga Barura” singer.
A year after releasing his last album, “Muko”, the immensely talented guitarist is still search ing for answers. “Up to this day, I still fail to understand how such a good album flopped.
I gave my all on that album and did not expect it to fare as badly as it did,” he said. Curiously, Mjintu thinks his misfortunes could be associated with the spirit of the late Leonard Dembo.
“I am one of the most talented musi cians in this country and very few people can doubt that.
I always wonder why I am failing to make it big. I strongly suspect the spirit of the late Leonard Dembo wants me to work with the Barura Express, and not with any other band,” added Mjintu.
“I was with Alick Macheso and together we did a big project. Surprisingly, I was fired. I also tried to join Mark Ngwazi’s band but, again, I was rejected. I then had this forgettable sojourn with Zare.”
He conceded that his career as a band leader is over and has since shelved plans to release new music. “I am now part of Barura Express and I am not going back to Zare.
The available option at the movement is to release some of the songs I wrote some time back under Barura Express.” Morgan Dembo confirmed Mjintu’s return to Barura Express.
“We were overwhelmed by live shows during the festive season and we decided to engage Mjintu on a part-time basis. After the festive season, he offered to work with us and we could not miss the opportunity, thus, we gladly took him in,” he said.
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