The lighter side of musicians

laugh, talk and joke just about anything.

Life for musicians is usually not what we think it is because they don’t think or see themselves as celebrities but just ordinary people.
The Herald had an opportunity to discover the lighter side of Zimbabwe’s top musicians at a luncheon hosted for them by Garwe Restaurant together with leading promoter Partson “Chipaz” Chimbodza of Chipaz Promotions.

Surprisingly, all the artistes invited at the luncheon – Oliver Mtukudzi, Alick Macheso, Winky D – turned up early while Suluman Chimbetu was a latecomer. However, like the old adage says better late than never, Sulu in short at least turned up but Tongai Moyo could not make it.
The reason for Moyo or simply Dhewa not showing up was that he had gone to his rural home last Friday and somehow he couldn’t make it on time since lunch was served at 1pm. However, Dhewa was well represented by his right hand man and chanter Gift “Shiga Shiga” Katulika.

With everyone seated at the table which was big enough to accommodate at least 20 diners, the hostess Mandy Garwe, dutifully introduced herself to the musicians.
According to Mandy, she has always wanted to meet Zimbabwe’s musicians or celebrities, so to speak, at her eatery that is popular for its traditional cuisine.

Preferably, she calls her dishes healthy food and anything that is not healthy eating, for instance liquor, was not served at the five-star restaurant.
As she went through the menu comprising tripe, kidney & liver, biltong in peanut butter sauce, oxtail, stir-fried beef among others, Tuku, his drummer Sam Mataure, Josh Hozheri and Macheso were busy sipping on maheu which was extra-matured.

The situation at the table could have been quite tense but musicians being public figures it was livelier and exciting.
In breaking the ice, Macheso or just Extrabasso to his fans, was the first one to greet all the latecomers including the journalists invited to the luncheon.

Boy oh boy, Extrabasso has such a wonderful sense of humour. He would joke about everything from the food, drinks to even the venue.
But Extrabasso is equal to Tuku who poked fun at others while they enjoyed the food.
When Chipaz appealed the musicians to perform a song or two together on stage, Tuku stood up and asked whether the stage was big enough to accommodate every band in the line-up?

“What I want to know is that are all bands going to fit on one stage and when are we going to perform the song during or after the show?” Tuku asked.
Later, it was agreed that all the musicians would perform the song “Wenge Mambo.”
However, Sulu took the opportunity to poke fun at Winky D saying that he would struggle to sing the song since he was the only dancehall singer on the line-up.

For the greater part, Winky D had been quiet but he would not take the jibe lightly saying “tinochimhanya Shumba” (I will rise to the occasion).
There was something striking about these artistes who are expected to rock audiences at a gig dubbed “Zim’s Finest”. It was the humility with which they displayed and the oneness as musicians. Such moments are like Christmas; they only come once in a year.

The gig is scheduled for this Friday at Andy Millar Hall and if you are a fan this is one gig not to miss.