adminNgoni Dapira
MUTARE’S oldest high-density suburb Sakubva is known for many things, with a high crime rate topping the list. The sprawling ghetto, which is densely populated, however, has an untold story to tell of its prolific contribution to the music and arts sector of Mutare and Zimbabwe at large. From the 1970s, many celebrated musicians have come from the ghetto, but have often been forced to relocate to Harare and set in motion their musical careers.
We can talk of the 1970s Peter Muparutsa-led outfit, Runn Family that strummed songs that literally became national anthems like Ishe komborerai, Nhapi Tapi, Samora Waenda, Gumbo mumba-gumbo kunze, Samora and Moyo muti.
Born and bred in Sakubva in Old Chisamba, the Runn Family Band was created in the 1970s and grew to become a renowned band countrywide.
The group, however, suffered the same fate like most bands and later disintegrated with members pursuing different careers.
In 1989, Peter left for Harare to take up a job with Gramma Records as a producer which led to the collapse of the group.
From the Runn Family, however, grew many legendary names all from Sakubva like Oliver Mtukudzi’s manager and seasoned drummer, Sam Mataure, renowned music producer, Bothwell Nyamhondera and Anslem Boka, a local music producer.
Another name to grow from the outfit in 1986 was Peter’s late brother, Fortune Muparutsa, who later pursued a brilliant solo career after the group disintegrated and produced a string of hit songs like Ndiwe wangu (Kanda matombo) and Kure kwaunoenda to mention a few.
Fortune sadly passed in 2009 in the United Kingdom just after he had re-launched his musical career.
From the success of the Runn Family, a lot of musical groups in Sakubva were stirred up in the early 1990s and among them, one notable group to rise to the occasion was the late Stobart Chidikano-led Assegai Crew outfit of the Amaibhoyi (Kanyama karipi) fame which went viral countrywide.
Formed in 1991, the group had its unique fusion of ragga and Afro-pop called Ragga Manyika.
Following the death of Chidikano, original group members like Brian Nyanhanga went on to form other outfits like Too Open currently based in Harare that still plays Ragga Manyika.
Assegai Crew also later re-grouped in 2010 under Silas Makumbe, a former original member, and is also currently based in Harare where they say there are more business opportunities to stay afloat in the hard-knock industry.
So when often one thinks of Sakubva, it is also important to be prudent and look at the flip-side of the coin, remembering that the sprawling ghetto has an untold story to tell and produced some of Zimbabwe’s musical greats that still live and ever lived.
Online Reporter