Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
A FRIENDSHIP, and a shared musical past, has taken two Zimbabwean musicians back onto the stage, proving that age has not dimmed their hunger for performance.
Seventy-six-year-old John ‘Chibhodhoro’ Muyambo, a drummer and backing vocalist, travelled from Harare to the UK after being invited by his long-time bandmate and friend, Farai Paul Malianga, 77, a guitarist.
The pair once formed a part of the 2D Sounds band, known for their lively sounds they brought to audiences back in the early 1960s.
Malianga, a song writer, vocalist and player of the guitar and piano, has been on and off to UK since 1970.
Malianga felt comforted with Chibhodhoro promising a show to be remembered when he returns to Zimbabwe.
“Tirituchembere tusingakure,” said Malianga.
“Chibhodhoro accepted my invitation and I felt honoured and comforted after losing my wife.
“I got time to recall how we started in Mutare in the ‘60s until we formed a band.
“Taiseka Chibhodhoro nehupfupi hwake kuti muisirei ladder aridze ngoma,” said Malianga.
With both men now in their late seventies, questions naturally lingered after their arrival: was their recent private function performance meant to be their last on stage, or were they still eager to continue performing?
The answer, friends say, was loud and clear.
The night did not feel like a farewell.
Instead, it reflected the unmistakable energy of musicians who still live for music and still feel at home behind their instruments.
Chibhodhoro, in particular, drew attention not only for his steady drumming and backing vocals, but also for how quickly he fell back into the band’s groove, as if no time had passed since the days when he and Malianga shared a stage as part of 2D Sounds.
During a performance, Chibhodhoro suddenly jumped from the stage into the crowd, surprising guests and turning the event into a celebration.
Rather than withdrawing after the daring moment, he carried on with the rhythm and presence that made him memorable in the first place – showing that the stage is still where he wants to be.
“I was received with honour at the private concert where we performed and, as usual, I gave my best.
“I felt energetic and jumped into the crowd, leaving my drum on stage and revellers were happy and asked for selfies with me,” said Chibhodhoro.
For many in attendance, it was the clearest sign that this reunion was not the end of the road.
If anything, it suggested that these old-school performers still have plenty to give.
Chibhodhoro is also remembered for his earlier role as a backing vocalist for the late Safirio Madzikarire, popularly known as Mukadota.
That legacy remains part of what older music lovers recall with pride when the name Chibhodhoro comes up.
So when he appeared in the UK for the private function, it was not only a reunion of bandmates – it was also a reminder of a musical lineage that helped shape Zimbabwean performance culture long before modern recording and online fame.
Chibhodhoro’s leap was proof that their style still carries weight and their connection to the beat remains strong.
As the night faded, the patrons left with the sense that this was not the final curtain, but another chapter for a pair of Mutare musicians who still believe the rhythm is worth sharing – wherever they are in the world.
Chibhodhoro is expected back home tomorrow.
dyton mupawaenda