malvernmugadzikwa
Dennis Chimanzi
IN a move that is likely to electrify the local music scene and, at the same time, settle an old score, Esau Macheso, son of the legendary sungura singer Alick, is itching for a duel with Obert Tongai Moyo Jnr, son of the late Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo.
According to Esau, sharing the stage with Obert will rekindle the rivalry that used to exist between his father and the late Dhewa.
At one point, Tongai Moyo and Alick Macheso were the major sungura drawcards, and their personal rivalry and music contests are well-documented.
Sadly, that rivalry came to an abrupt end in 2011, when Dhewa succumbed to cancer.
Esau, who works with his brother Tatenda, is raring to go on stage and prove that he is better than Obert.
“We were recently weaned off from our father’s band. We are now our own men. My cherished desire is for us to share the stage with Obert so that we rekindle the rivalry that was between our fathers,” Esau said.
The duel, according to Esau, will help revitalise fortunes for the sungura genre.
“If you look at it closely, the dominance of the sungura genre is being threatened by Zimdancehall and hip-hop. We need fresh initiatives to keep the fire burning,” added Esau.
Obert accepted the challenge and vowed to keep his father’s legacy alive.
“I have an obligation to help keep my father’s legacy alive. The best way to do that is to share the stage with the Macheso boys and completely outclass them,” Obert, who was bubbling with confidence, said.
When Dhewa breathed his last in 2011, Obert, who entered the musical scene in 2020, was then a mere 11-year-old boy.
He announced his arrival by releasing “Dzinza Rinokosha” on which he featured Ronnie Mudhindo — who worked with Tongai Moyo’s Utakataka Express as a bass guitarist.
Rising steadily, his song “Cain and Abel” occupied 15th position on the 2020 ZBC TV end-of-year top 50 video chart show.
On the other hand, the Macheso siblings, who want to prove that they can flourish without their father, last month released their debut album titled “Pahukama Hwedu”.
Tracks off the six-track album include “Shuviro Yedu”, “Muporofita”, “Wanotiropafadza”, “Dai Mavagonera”, “Pahukama” and “Ndipeiwo Mukana”.
In recent months, the youngsters have been performing live without the presence of their esteemed father.
The duo gave a good account of themselves when they performed at the Chipinge gala, which celebrated the life of the late national hero Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole.
Obert’s elder brother, Peter, was rather diplomatic.
“It is my pleasure to work with the Macheso siblings. I do not see them as competitors. We are brothers. I cannot count the many times that their father has helped me,” Peter said.
However, he notes the supposed “rivalry” will help rejuvenate sungura and save it from extinction.
Alick Macheso, who spoke through his manager and publicist Tich Makahamadze, said the onus in now on young artistes to save and promote sungura.
“Esau and Tatenda are my sons. At the same time, I also see Obert and the other Moyo siblings as my sons. I want to help them so that when I finally retire, I will leave sungura in safe hands,” Macheso, who is popularly known as Baba Sharo, said.
Music producer Clive “Mono” Mukundu welcomed the development.
According to Mukundu, sungura is lacking new blood.
He called upon established sungura artistes such as Macheso, Nicholas Zakaria, Leonard Zhakata and Paradzai Mesi, among others, to help groom young artistes.
“I have said it before and I will say it again. There is need for established sungura artistes to groom young people. From my observations, the majority of young music fans prefer Zimdancehall simply because the majority of the artistes in this genre are also young.”
Online Reporter