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Courage Musariri Saturday Leisure Reporter
Zimbabwe was on 15 October 2011 plunged into mourning following the death of one of the country’s talented musicians, Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo. This year his family has decided to celebrate his life through song and dance and has lined up shows in Kwekwe, his home town, Chinhoyi and Harare.
The commemorations will begin with a private event on 15 October where Tongai’s family, friends, fellow musicians and promoters will get together to reminisce about their life with the late Dhewa.
On 18 October Peter Moyo and his Utakataka Express band will hold a joint show with Motswana musician, Slizer at Mbizo Stadium in Kwekwe.
In an interview, Utakataka band manager Suko Dube, said Kwekwe based groups will be given a chance to showcase their talent during the Kwekwe celebrations.
“We have lined up a number of local based acts, among them will be former Utakataka bassist Ronnie Mudhindo. We want Kwekwe to celebrate Dhewa’s life in a special way because Tongai loved his town and whereever he is, he misses it,” he said.
Dube said from Kwekwe the celebrations will move to Chinhoyi where the band along with Slizer will stage another show at CSC social club.
“From Chinhoyi we will stage our third show at Harare Gardens where we will be joined in celebrating the life of Tongai by Alick Macheso, Sulumani Chimbetu and Slizer. We want fans to come in their numbers as we remember the late Dhewa through music and dance,” he said.
Born on 12 March 1968 in Sessombe, Zhombe, Tongai was the second child in a family of three, two boys and one girl. The late musician went to Chiedza Primary and Mbizo Secondary schools. When he completed his A-levels between 1994-1995, Dhewa enrolled for a diploma in accounting at Kwekwe Polytechnic as a part timer.
Later Dhewa dropped out of college and decided to concentrate on recording his music; thus becoming a full time musician and releasing his first album Vimbo in 1997. In 1998, he joined the Ministry of Health as an Accountant at Kwekwe General Hospital and left in 2000 to concentrate on his music career.
Dhewa released smash hits such as Samanyemba, Naye and Muchina Muhombe which had a huge following nationally and in the Southern Africa region. He has 14 albums to his name.
Tongai Moyo succumbed to non Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer at St Anne’s Hospital in Harare on 15 October 2011. Close to 15 000 people converged at Mbizo Stadium to pay their last respects to the sungura superstar before his burial at his rural home in Sessombe.
His son Peter has since taken over the reigns at Utakataka Express and in July released his debut album titled Mushonga Mukuru, a six- track album.
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