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Entertainment Reporter
Chitungwiza-based sungura musician Patricia Makusha aka Tete Pipiro has established herself as the Queen of Sungura with the recent launch of her fourth album.
With the backing of her Manjenjenje Smart Family Band, Tete Pipiro introduced the album “Pakaipa” at Las Vegas nightclub in Southerton last week.
She performed all the tracks from this new album as well as others from the earlier three albums that she has released since 2009.
Tete Pipiro’s energetic dances left the crowd convinced that maturity does not necessarily have to translate into stiff bones. The woman definitely knows how to make her presence on the stage count. She has flexibility of movement and energy levels that some artistes half her age can never exhibit.
Artistes like Sulumani Chimbetu and Peter Moyo who could not attend the launch sent band members to show solidarity.
Guest of honour was Kora Award winner Mathias Bangure. He thanked Tete Pipiro for respecting her Mbizi totem in dressing her entire band to pay homage to the beautiful zebra.
“Tete started singing when she was still at school and in church choirs. I thank you so much our respected Tete Pipiro for challenging this male-dominated sungura music genre. Your band presentation and regalia shows that you are an organised artiste.
“You have brought in a keyboard to improve the sound for an international audience. I worked for an international organisation called Music Crossroads; I am ready to help her in any way she might demand in internationalissing her music,” pledged Bangure.
Film producer Anton (JJ)Mutambira and his wife Sister Flame were also present at the launch.
“I am not a sungura fan, but I love art and I am an artiste in film production. To tell you the truth, I am mostly happy about the research I think she made. She observed that there was gender inequality. Her things are defining themselves. I thought I was at Jah Prayzah’s show. The band is on stage in full uniform, dances and singing. The costumes are something, Manjenjenje from hair to the shoes, mazebra chaiwo. This totally shows that you have passed in planning, meaning that your future is obviously marvelous,” said Mutambira.
Sister Flame also added her approval and explained why the couple could not stay for long.
“Congratulations Tete Pipiro, I am breastfeeding my infant but I braved the cold to come and witness this historic sungura music album launch. At your age, you have shown the world of artistes that energy has nothing to do with age.
“You are older than me but you have challenged the male-dominated sungura platform whose genre again demands much energy in creating the music and is riddled with many personal controversies of the artistes. Most of the parents deny their children from engaging in art but you are leading them.
“On behalf of all female artistes, I promise you all the support you shall expect from all of us female artistes to augment the support you get from fans and the corporate world,” said Sister Flame.
Tete Pipiro started singing from childhood at churches and in school choirs. In 2009 she released an album titled “Zviriseyi”. In 2012 she followed up with two more albums – “Munhu Ngaafare” and “Chidhanana”.
Her sister, Florence Chitiyo, who took care of her since childhood, said she grew up as an unstoppable girl who did not think twice about chores normally segregated as boys’ work.
“Pipiro has never been one to bear grudges and is always optimistic,” said Chitiyo.
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