Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
SULUMAN Chimbetu says he derives a lot of pride from being a Zimbabwean and his love for his country knows no bounds.
Sulu, 43, hails from a family which has a strong military background.
He became the first Zimbabwean artist to perform at the inaugural UN Tourism First World and Tourism Festival held in Kinshasa, DRC.
The three-day festival, designed to promote tourism, culture, and peace, featured a diverse line-up of stars, including the Kenyan act Savara, and a host of Congolese talents such as Fally Ipupa, Gas Mawete, Gally Garvey, Yekima and DJ Dakhazar, among others.
In an interview, Sulu, as the crooner is fondly known, expressed his excitement.
“I can’t thank God enough for this perfect opportunity, which saw us meeting tourism chiefs, international visitors and music fans from July 16-18 this year.
“I thoroughly enjoyed representing my country in the DRC, which means a lot to us.
“Being the first Zimbabwean to perform at this inaugural event was an historic moment for us, and we will continue doing our best.
“I was also humbled as fans sang along to some of my songs and the feedback is all that we wanted after releasing our latest album, ‘Tsapo,’ which has revitalised our spirits.
“This kind of love from fans is all that we need as we continue to make great strides in showbiz at the moment. It is my hope that my troupe will build on that triumph as we return home for a series of live shows.
“We feel inspired and motivated after this milestone.”
After the DRC show, Sulu believes he has nothing to prove as a cultural ambassador.
“I have always wanted to represent my country with distinction, wherever I am, not because of my military background but because I fully utilise every opportunity I get to market Zimbabwe.
“I am proud of my roots and I have been preaching the same gospel within my circles.
“No matter what we are going through as a nation, nothing can beat the love I witnessed recently in Kinshasa.”
Now that he is back on home turf, Sulu has vowed to continue giving fans value for their money with the Simon Chopper Commemoration Gala set for Chegutu set for next month.
It will mark the 20th anniversary of the celebrations for the late Marxist Brothers co-founder, who died in 2005.
For Sulu, it will signify two decades as a professional musician.
Sulu has been consistent for years.
He has been attracting loyal fans during his shows and, of late, attendance at his shows has swelled, indicating that Sulu is winning back the hearts of old fans.
“It feels good to be back home in style and we can only promise more action to our fans out there. We have nothing to prove, but we are simply humbled by the loyalty.
“A lot is in place with regional and international tours lined up.
“The Simon Chopper Chimbetu Commemoration Gala is also coming back and there is no way we can slow down.”
He added: “We are a well-knit family where we preach nothing but love, unity, and care. We have devised the principle that we eat what we kill and we are all happy with that arrangement.
“As one of the most consistent bands at the moment we also cherish the faith that promoters, festival-goers, and international talent scouts have shown us over the years.”
With the 2025 showbiz season now in full swing, he believes he has made a mark and deserves recognition.
“It was an eventful year that started on a promising note before the gods smiled on us with the release of our album, ending a five-year album drought.
“After its release, we are now seeing the results and we aren’t stopping anytime soon. We will continue working hard to ensure that we give fans real value for their money. We have given them an early Christmas present in the form of this new album,” he said.
