Mpofu in bid to revive late father’s music

following the release of his debut album titled “Mabasa Kuwanda”.
The six-track album carries tracks that were written by his late father as well as his own compositions.
Recorded at Gramma Records, the album hit the record shelves last week and was recorded with the backing of Zambuko Band, the outfit that made Paul Mpofu a household name with hits like “Murambinda” and “Mapepa Enyika”, among others.
To prove that music indeed runs within the Mpofu family, two of Bruce’s young brothers, Desmund and Paul Jnr, are also members of the new-look Zambuko Band with Desmund playing the bass guitar while Paul Jnr is on the drums.
“The album was supposed to have been released last year but the people at Gramma were saying they didn’t have material for CD production.
“Most of the songs were written by my father and I made every effort to update them so that they fit into the modern-day set-up.
“I am trying my best to take after my father and people who attend our shows always remark how much they are impressed by our performance,” Bruce said.
He said by working as brothers in the band, they wanted to make the group the powerhouse that it used to be during Paul’s heyday when he was one of the most-sought after musicians in the country.
“We want to prove to all and sundry that Zambuko Band is still kicking despite the challenges we face in the form of lack of a music kit, transport and lack of finance for the smooth flowing of the activ- ties of the band,” Bruce said.
The album carries the songs “Mabasa Kuwanda”, “Nherera”, about the travails of an orphan, “Pasuru, which is a tribute to Paul, “Nyamavhuvhu”, “Chapter 37” which talks about the other side of that type of marriage and “Totevera Sei?”
But how did Bruce’s passion for music first start?
He recalls: “It was during one of my father’s shows at Saratoga when I had to stand in for backing vocalist More Ngwerume who had walked off the stage.
“My father had to call me from the gate where I worked as a cashier and I started backing him without prior practice and I just clicked.
“That was the beginning of it and the other day we were at Mushandirapamwe Hotel where the drummer also fell out with my father and again I filled in the void and dad was impressed.
“He then called for practice and that’s how I ended up working with him,” said Bruce, who helped his father record his last album, “Dura Rehupenyu” in 2002.
Born on August 8, 1979 in Harare, Bruce is the first born in a family of five boys – Bruce, Desmund, Charles, Paul and Tinashe.