Mathew Masinge
ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER
THE Chimurenga genre is in safe hands if Jairos Chabvonga’s latest offering, Pachipamwe, is anything to go by.
The musician, who boasts four studio albums under his belt, has returned to the scene with an explosive eight-track project produced by veteran Bothwell Nyamhondera, seeking to reaffirm his place in the genre.
“It’s nice to be back with something for fans. I took time working on the project as I wanted to come up with something nice and solid for the Chimurenga and traditional music fans. Remember, Chimurenga music is classy, international and is for the mature,” Chabvonga said.
The album’s title, Pachipamwe, loosely translates to “greetings, everyone!” or simply “hello, everyone!”, signalling the musician’s return to his fans and the music scene.
The project features Musambo Wadzoka, Ndakangomira, Mwana Akanaka, Mukadzi Wakaenda, Yakauya Neropa, Yambiro and Simbiso, a collaboration recorded several years ago with the late Zimdancehall star Souljah Love.
The album’s opening track, Musambo Wadzoka, carries an even bolder message — that Chimurenga is back — while reflecting Chabvonga’s confidence in the genre and its future.
His comeback comes at a time when questions around originality and musical identity have gained renewed attention in Chimurenga.
Legendary musician Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo has been calling on local musicians, including his nephew Kurai Makore, to embrace originality and concentrate on their own compositions during live performances.
For Chabvonga, the push towards developing an individual musical identity is a lesson he learnt from another Zimbabwean music giant, the late Oliver Mtukudzi.
“He (Mtukudzi), who was my neighbour for years, told me several times that successful musicians are original and after his death, it finally dawned on me that I have to come out of my cocoon and face the reality,” he said.
That advice appears to have shaped Pachipamwe, with Chabvonga seeking to establish a distinct musical identity within a genre whose history has been defined by some of Zimbabwe’s biggest names.
The latest release, available on online music stores, adds to a catalogue that already includes four studio albums — Nevanji, Chimurenga Highway, Chimurenga Heritage and Nhano (Step).
Online Reporter