AY Band crumbles

The band’s demise is symbolically similar to that of the founder who died last year at the tender age of 22.
Faith, who took over the running of the band at the end of January, is alleged to have called the six-member band for a meeting in Norton two weeks ago and ordered them not to use the name AY Band.
“She just told us not to use the name AY at a meeting in Norton, but never told us the reason.
“She said it was the position that had been reached by the board,” said one of the band members, who declined to be named.

The development, however, happened during Oliver Mtukudzi’s absence as he is currently on an overseas tour.
When Sam died, his father vowed to assist his son’s band, a situation that has seen the AY Band backing Tuku on a number of occasions for his live shows.
The insider, however, said they were simply waiting for Tuku’s return before they can solidify their position.
After Sam’s death, his then manager Nicodemus Manyane left the band without a manager and it has been functioning like that till early this year when Faith allegedly imposed herself at the helm.

According to some of the band members, Faith came on board as a mere passenger who only managed to secure two shows in the close to three months she has been at the helm.
“She only secured one show at Miami Night Club and another one at Jazz 105, but all the others we have been scavenging on our own,” said another band member.
He said since Sam died they have been holding shows in and around Harare without help from anyone, but said since Faith came on board there has been a heavier load.

The band members suspect that when Faith took over the reins of the band she expected the band to be a cash cow but realised that they shared the profits equally among the members.
This is said to have infuriated her leading to numerous clashes with band members until she expelled the whole band.
For many musicians, the band has stood as a symbol of unity and solace as many had been contemplating the maturity of Sam into a full-blown musician who would later take over the legacy of his father.

But this was not to be as his efforts jointly with his father’s have been brought to naught.
Sam died in a tragic accident on March 15 last year. When the news struck Zimbabwe and the world at large, a dark cloud hung in every heart and a dirge and a knell sounded to every soul.
Yet now it is the same scenario that his “baby” finds itself in, strangled and gasping for breath.
The band has since assumed the new name Afro Blaze and is continuing with shows. For some of the band members it will never be the same.-The Sunday Mail