Another memorial gig for Dhewa

perform in support of the late sungura musician.
The day will belong to three of the Zimbabwe’s youthful musicians — Mukudzei Makombe known in the arts sector as Jah Prayzah, Tryson Chimbetu and Dhewa’s son, Peter Moyo.
Tongai died on October 15 last year.
Their efforts will be supported by an array of guest artistes including Somandla Ndebele, Leonard Zhakata, the Charamba family, First Farai  and Sanii Makhalima, whose brief appearance on the day is expected to fire up the performance by the three young crooners.
Peter Moyo’s manager, Suko Dube, said the memorial gig was born out of the realisation that Tongai Moyo had fans all over the country.
“Tongai used to work with music promoters and fans across the country and we saw it proper to hold the bash in Harare.
“If another promoter from Chinhoyi or Masvingo wants to hold the memorial we just agree on terms and conditions, there is nothing wrong with that,” he said.
First Farai, a self-confessed admirer of the late Tongai Moyo, said he was humbled to perform at the gig.
“Tongai was my mentor and when he needed me, I used to cancel my shows to help him and this is the only way I can pay him for shaping my music career,” he said.
The ongoing shows that are being held in honour of the late musician is a clear indication that he had become a brand name that many fans still want to be associated with.
From the time the late Tongai Moyo started music, and was at one time labelled a copycat of the late Leonard Dembo, he never looked back.
He went on to brand himself as one of the most consistent and talented musicians to emerge during that time.
His resilience gave birth to a solid musical product and a series of hit songs that offered a variation of sungura, which at one time his fans labelled rhumba-sungura.
This beat is clearly distinct on songs like “Muchina Muhombe”, “Mweya WaMwari” and “Handidi Navo”.
When reports emerged that Dhewa had been diagnosed with cancer, he did not hang up his guitar, as many had expected but went on to release several hits including his last album, “Toita Basa”.
He even declared that he was not a charity case, when some musicians mooted the idea of giving a hand to ease his financial woes.
But, of course, his plea for help probably came a bit too late when he introduced his “Mandiregera dance,” and six months down the line, the veteran musician was no more.