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Trust Khosa
It all started as an audition at Rufaro Stadium during the 1987 Uhuru celebrations, when they were nonentities. The main acts of the day were about to appear on stage when the then-teens begged organisers to showcase their talent.
After convincing the stage managers of the day, Professor Fred Zindi and his colleague Mike Mhundwa, for a “life-changing” audition, the youngsters were finally granted permission to perform, and they nailed it.
So inspiring was their performance that the stage managers allowed them to play two additional songs.
The highly appreciative crowd cheered on the “little boys” who exuded confidence.
Many were stunned by their command of the stage and the talent they showcased during the 1987 Independence celebrations.
As the old saying goes, the rest was history for the Frontline Kids Band.
Today, one of the founder members of the band, Emmanuel Thomas, takes us down memory lane as he chronicles their journey.
He recently turned 56 and celebrated 46 years in the game.
Thomas started his career at the age of 10 and is now four years shy of celebrating his diamond jubilee.
“It feels good to be turning 56 years old and I believe age is just a number. I feel as if I am 40 years old, still healthy and going strong. It’s fun how we were called Frontline Kids Band in the ’80s, but now I am a grown-up.”
“I see God’s grace considering that most of the musicians of our generation passed away.”
As he chronicles his journey, Thomas does attributes his life to the Lord’s grace
“We were born twins with sister Pastor Vee (Vimbayi Taivevashe Thomas), who now resides in South Africa.
“We celebrated our 56th birthday with friends and family members. We had a wonderful time. This year I am also celebrating 46 years in the music industry. I started playing the guitar at the age of 10 years in 1978.
“It wasn’t easy those years considering that musicians were looked down by society.”
Like most peers of his generation, Thomas started his musical career in church.
“My parents were pastors at ZAOGA (Zimbabwe Assemblies of God, Africa) in Bulawayo, where my late brother would sing while I played the guitar.
“In 1982, my parents were transferred to Harare to head an assembly in Dzivarasekwa.
“In 1984, we teamed with other young guys to form a band called Scanners International Band.
“The other band members were Peter Tembo on lead vocals, Jivas Dzotizeyi (backing vocals), Wellington Masvosva (drummer), Philbert Marova on guitar, Peter Bob Manuwere on bass guitar, and myself on guitar.
“We recorded hit songs such as ‘Chawuya Chawuya’ and ‘Tsiga’, that made us overnight stars,” recalls Thomas.
Lady luck smiled on them in 1987 during the Independence Day celebrations when they got a chance to appear on the big stage by default.
“We requested the stage managers, Professor Fred Zindi and his colleague Mike Mhundwa, to perform, but they resisted at first.
“As we kept on begging, they allowed us to perform only one song, and the crowd was surprised to see young boys on stage with guitars.
“After performing our first song, the crowd danced and sang along to the song and requested two more songs.
“The following morning our band made local newspaper headlines.
“Professor Fred Zindi took our contacts and followed us to Dzivarasekwa, where we used to stay. We agreed to work with him as our manager.
“However, Peter Tembo, the lead vocalist, decided to leave the band because he didn’t want to be managed by Zindi.”
After Tembo’s departure, Thomas recalls how they moved on.
“We changed the name from Scanners to Frontline Kids Band. We represented all the kids in all the Frontline states.
“The youngest member of the band was in Grade 5, while the oldest was 17 years. As Frontline Kids Band, we recorded five albums namely, ‘Children of the Frontline’, ‘Kumusha’, ‘Yarira Ngoma’, ‘Creation’, and ‘African Jive’, as well as 13 singles.
“The band comprised Noel Zembe, Emmanuel Thomas, Jivas Dzotizeyi, Philbert Marova, Wellington Masvosva, Peter Bob Manuwere, Primrose Sithole, with Prof Zindi as the manager.”
The band held successful regional and international tours.
“In 1989, we toured Botswana and we performed in Francistown and Gaborone.
“In 1991, we toured Europe where we performed in London, Manchester, Shrewsbury, Birmingham, Butter Market, Brixton, and Scotland.
“We recorded the hit song ‘Yarira Ngoma’ in Birmingham. When we performed in Manchester, UB40 was performing about a kilometre away where their show flopped because ours attracted more people and the venue was packed.”
After their international breakthrough, the Frontline Kids disbanded.
“In 1992, we parted ways since most of the guys had come of age, with Noel Zembe forming a gospel band called the Zeal Project.
“Philbert Marova became a music lecturer, Jivas Dzotizeyi joined Ndochi Stars while Wellington Masvosva joined Zaoga Egea Gospel Train.
“Primrose Sithole went back to South Africa where she later passed on, and I formed a band called Township Vibes.”
Now a music teacher, Thomas has never stopped doing music.
“In 1999, I recorded a hit song ‘Nothing for Mahala’, which was followed by another big tune named ‘Tiripa Muchato’ in 2000.
“I then decided to concentrate on teaching the bass guitar at Zimbabwe College of Music pop workshops.”
He adds: “In 2017, I collaborated with my wife, City Thomas, and did a song called ‘Cyclone Idai’.
“In 2020, I also did another collaboration with City Thomas named ‘Mwari Pindirayi’, which was a plea to God to save us from the coronavirus pandemic.
“Last year, City Thomas released a song called ‘Dzokera’ where I played lead and rhythm guitars.
“Currently, I am in the studio doing a collaboration with Noel Zembe called ‘Vhuvhuruka’, that discourages the use of drugs.”
Online Reporter