Innocent Mjintu releases fifth album

Zimbabwe’s most gifted composers and instrumentalists.
The former Barura Express and Orchestra Mberikwazvo rhythmist has proven that tenacity is the stuff that successful musicians are made of and this is exactly what his album is all about.
Although the album carries a total of four songs that run for close to 44 minutes, the Chitungwiza-based artiste however manages to give listeners value for their money by packaging the album with scintillating songs laden with lyrics that are socially conscious.
Mjintu also obliges fans of the Barura music beat by taking the genre – popularised by his late mentor Leonard Dembo – to another level.
But that is not all, the artiste has also gone a notch up in perfecting his vocal skills, giving a flawless delivery. And to add to the appeal, the former Orchestra Mberikwazvo member played all the instruments on the album except for the drums, which were played by one of his band members only identified as Tinashe.
On the four-track album, the versatile instrumentalist is more concerned with domestic issues bordering on the bitter-sweet sides of love stemming from marital bliss and strife, jealous, long-distance love, infidelity and heartbreaks, among other attendant issues.
It is an album that chides, advises and at the same time reminds people to bear in mind that life is full of pitfalls, heartaches, bitterness but can be sweet if one presses the right button. Take for instance, the opening track, “Vakasarenda”.
Running for a total of 14 minutes and 26 seconds, the track talks about people who are bent on destroying the marriage of a couple that are faithful to one another to the extent that they pay a deaf ear to all malicious talk about their relationship.
It is a song that shows the good side of marriage and fidelity.
“Muchato chinhu chakakosha hama dzangu/ Kune vakazama kuputsa asi vakakonewa (marriage is a hallowed union/Some tried to drive a wedge between us but failed),” are part of the lyrics in the song.
In “Wakavimbisa”, a lover is pining over a long-gone partner who is in a distant place although the flame of love is still glowing strong.
The heart-broken lover is still cherishing hopes of nuptial bells despite living poles apart.
“Hama dzose dzakakumirira, chiuya tigarisane (All my relatives are waiting for you to come and stay with me and become their in-law),” goes the song.
Couples are urged to work hard for their families in the song “Manext Door” which goes an extra mile in chiding them against developing the syndrome of always extending the begging bowl to their neighbours.
The album signs off with the song “Zino” about people who are like wolves in sheep’s clothing because of their malice, double-standards and hypocrisy.
Recorded at the Zimbabwe Music Corporation, this is Mijintu’s fifth album after his debut Ndafunga Barura (2007), Revai (2008), Ngoma YeZare (2008) and Degree Murudo (2009).It is without doubt one of the best sungura albums released this year.