Musicians mourn Daiton Somanje

Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
MUSICIANS from across Zimbabwe are mourning the death of Pengaudzoke co-founder Daiton Somanje describing it as a blow to the arts industry. The Tsaona hit-maker, 47, succumbed to suspected meningitis at the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare on Tuesday afternoon. He will be buried this afternoon at Marondera Cemetery.

The musician’s body left Harare yesterday afternoon for Marondera after scores of people including celebrities attended the musician’s funeral service in Dzivaresekwa.

Rumours of his death started to circulate on social media networking sites on Saturday but Daiton’s family through his eldest son Faheem refuted the claims.

Most musicians who worked closely with Somanje said they were deeply shocked and saddened by his death.

Nicholas “Madzibaba” Zakaria who said he knew Daiton since the 90s, said he was shocked by his sudden death.

“Daiton’s death has been a great shock to me. We worked together well during our joint shows. We’ve lost someone who was very talented,” Zakaria said.

He said he last spoke to Somanje last year when they were meant to perform together.

“The last time I spoke to him was last year in November when he cancelled a show at the last minute as he’d fallen ill,” he said.

Sulumani “Sulu” Chimbetu said he was a fan of Daiton’s music and was shattered by his death.

“We’ve lost one of the icons and legends of Zimbabwean music. Daiton left a void that’ll be hard if not impossible to fill because the group played a unique style of music,” he said.

Sulu said they staged together a number of shows in Harare and Marondera.

“We held joint shows in Harare and Marondera for a long time and it was great working with him. The last time I spoke to Daiton was last week when he told me he wasn’t feeling well.

“I never thought he’d leave us. This is a sad moment for the Zimbabwe music fraternity,” Sulu said

Alick Macheso said the country had lost an honest, down to earth musician who was always in a jovial mood.

“We worked with Daiton very well over the years as he had an excellent character. He was straightforward in everything that he did.

“I last saw him in Sanyati two years ago when we held a joint show there. We shall miss him and his jovial mood that brought laughter each time we were together,” Macheso said.

Zimbabwe Music Rights (Zimura) chairman and dub poet, Albert Nyathi said they had been robbed of a talented artiste who contributed immensely to the growth of the arts industry.

“Every time we met at various Zimura meetings, he’d contribute views that built the industry,” Nyathi said.

National Arts Council of Zimbabwe through their official Facebook page posted: “The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe will always cherish his contributions in the music industry, particularly in sungura. Indeed, the arts industry has been robbed of a talented artiste.”

The Zimbabwe Music Awards also posted on their official Facebook page: “Daiton’s death is indeed a major blow to the music fraternity and the nation as a whole. Our deepest condolences go out to Josephat, the Somanje family and fans of the Pengaudzoke movement.”

Born to farm labourers in Marondera in 1968, Daiton had a nomadic childhood, which saw him enrolling at four primary and three secondary schools.

He made waves in the 90’s with his brother Josephat fronting sungura band Pengaudzoke and making hit songs like Seiko Kuonda and Zvibate Pamhaka and later Tsaona. The group in 2003 spilt, apparently out of greed which saw them embarking on solo careers that unfortunately proved unsuccessful.

The two, during their period of animosity made a series of allegations against each other, among them witchcraft.

An attempt in 2010 to work together was futile as the reunion did not work because they had both lost their fan base. The same year Daiton had a fall out with his son Faheem for ‘bedding’ his Marondera wife Annah Kezias. Daiton disowned his son after suspecting that he was having an affair with his stepmother.

But the relationship got back on track and Daiton roped in Faheem for live shows.