admincontribution he made to the local sungura music realm by coming up with a unique brand.
“This album is a special dedication to System for founding smoko music which unfortunately is not played much these days after his death and that of his sibling Peter.
“As Rugare Brothers, we have therefore decided to complement efforts by the likes of Leeroy ‘Kamusena’ Lunga in reviving the genre,” Chareka said. Apart from the title track
“Gamba ReSmoko”, some of the tracks to look forward to on the album include “Unity (Ukubambana)”, which is a song which encourages national unity.
“Vana baba woye huyai tibatane tivake Zimbabwe/Kuvengana kunoparadza nyika, mazvake mazvake anotidzosera shure . . . (Come let’s put our heads together to build our nation/Enmity only serves to destroy . . .),” sings Chareka in the song. “Mudiwa”, “Wakandiramba Ndiwe” and “Pipiro” talk about the bitter-sweetness of love relations, while
“Zvafaya” derives its title from the street lingo which means things have gone well for someone. People will have a chance to sample the album when the group holds a series of shows in Mvurwi and Centenary.
“We are very grateful to the instruments we now own which were bought for us by our sponsor Boniface Gurenje and we urge other corporate organisations to emulate this noble gesture,” he said. Apart from “Gamba ReSmoko” some of their albums are “Wako Ndewako” (1996), “Magariro Edu” (2001), “Mutambo Uchiripo” (2002), “Chauya Chauya” (2003), “Rwendo Rwembiri (2005), “Bearer” (2006) and “Chandafira” (2007). Wantlove — “Hameno Ikoko”
This is one budding dancehall musician full of promise and he is sure to stir a hornet’s nest with this album that carries the controversial track, “Miracle Money”.
This phrase has been popularised by a number of contemporary prophets like Emmanuel Makandiwa and Uebert Angel although Wantlove hastened to say that the song was not targeted at anyone.
However, it remains with the listener to conclude whether this is true or not as the lyrics are clear in their meaning. “Seiko miracle money ichiitika kune vanhu vane mari/Asi mutaundi muzere ne mastreet kids anoshaya chikafu neschool fees? (Why is that the beneficiaries of miracle money are those who are already rich while the streets are full of street kids wallowing in abject poverty?),” he poses the question as part of his lyrics.
Another potentially controversial track is “Amai Vepa Next Door”, which is the story about a neighbouring single lady who yearns to fall in love with a single young man next door despite the fact that she is of questionable morals. According to the artiste, it is such kind of lust that leads to the spread of HIV and Aids as well as other diseases.
“MaEmpress” is a party song that pays tribute to various artistes in the dancehall genre like Lady Squanda, Lady B, Lipsy, Winky D, King Shaddy, Freeman and Stunner, among others, while the last track, “Mumoyo”, is about a sweetheart who becomes a nun, thus breaking her lover’s heart.
Recorded at Vee Fire Studios and produced by Nhubu Wemanough and Nyasha Timbe, this is Wantlove’s second album after “Usanyeberwe Usabhaizwe — The Rise of Wantlove”.
Born Valentine Mapfunde on September 6, 1993 in Harare, Wantlove’s passion for music started at Kutama Day Primary School in Zvimba as a hobby before he decided to record professionally in 2010.
Online Reporter