Online Reporter
Liberty Dube
Entertainment Correspondent
IN a remarkable turn of events that has thrilled nostalgic music lovers and intrigued a new generation of fans, one of Zimbabwe’s pioneering music legends, Pius Makokowe, has made a sensational return to the studio after a staggering 40-year hiatus from recording.
At 70, Makokowe is defying both age and time, rekindling a flame that once illuminated Zimbabwe’s (formerly Rhodesia) musical landscape in the late 1960s and 1970s.
A former member of the iconic Great Sounds and founding member of Acid Band, Makokowe is preparing to release a string of new singles, alongside re-releases of some of his timeless classics that once dominated the airwaves.
Makokowe rose to fame in 1969, with the release of the hit, “Anopenga Anewaya” and its popular flip-side track “Connie”.
The songs became instant favourites, especially among fans of the then-youthful radio DJ Webster Shamhu, who frequently spun them on African Service at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
The record, despite going gold, brought him little financial reward due to disputes over equipment ownership with the late Dominic Mandizha.
Unfazed by early setbacks, Makokowe left Great Sounds in 1973, and founded Acid Band, enlisting his brother, Charles, Norman Mbirimi, Albert Gweshe and two talented female backing vocalists.
Together they recorded hits like “Ndochema Kuvabereki” and “Shanje” cementing their place in Zimbabwe’s rich musical history.
Still, compensation remained elusive for the veteran artiste.
A lifeline came in 1979 when a well-known Harare bar owner, one Machipisa, signed him for a residency band at the famed Machipisa Night Club.
The opportunity marked another high point in Makokowe’s storied career.
Born in 1955, Makokowe’s musical journey began in church where he was already strumming the guitar by the age of 13.
His early influences and dedication led to performances at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera and it was during one of those spirited rehearsals in Highfield that the late Alias Banda discovered him and invited him to join Great Sounds.
Alongside fellow musicians, Jethro Shasha (drums) and Moses Bhikilanga (rhythm guitar), they crafted songs that resonated across the nation.
His journey later took him abroad where he briefly served as a backing vocalist for the legendary Thomas Mapfumo in the United Kingdom.
Upon his return to Zimbabwe in 1979, he joined Real Sounds, a band originally from Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo).
He then secured employment at CABS, before joining the Zimbabwe National Army, from which he retired in 1995.
A year later, he formed the Shocks Band in Bulawayo, only to step away from the limelight for over two decades.
Now based in Dangamvura, Mutare, Makokowe is as vibrant and passionate about music as ever.
With his guitar in hand and stories to tell, he is back to doing what he loves most, creating music that speaks to the soul.
“I feel I still have the energy to play the guitar and compose music. I know many people wonder where I am and what I am up to. It has been an awesome journey. I feel very fit, and I feel I still have a whole lot more to offer.
“I am confident that these new singles will be hits. Music is in my blood, in fact, it never left me. I spend much of my time writing songs and on the guitar. The guitar is my friend. I am sure by re-releasing the old songs, I will take fans down memory lane. It is a beautiful feeling,” said the ever jovial and soft spoken musician.
As he prepares to re-release classics like “Wotopfuhwira Zvese Nembwa Dzavo,” “Mudiwa Wangu,” “Anopenga Anewaya,” and “Connie” alongside fresh new music, fans, both old and new, can look forward to a powerful revival from one of Zimbabwe’s musical stalwarts.
