Online Reporter
H-Metro Reporter
Predictably, the views were mixed but there was overwhelming support for Leonard Dembo’s smash hit.
Here are some of the comments:
The fact that the song continues to stir such topical conversations more than 30 years after its release shows how special and untouchable it is.
It isn’t my favourite Dembo song but I have to put emotions aside.
It is the song that made more impact than any other from Zimbabwe. It is the greatest − Shepherd Sayi
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While a song can become widely popular or even a national anthem that many cherish at one point, it is nearly impossible for a single song to be the best for every individual in a country due to the diversity of tastes and experiences.
So giving a single song a blanket best status to me doesn’t make sense − Essau Nyamhondera
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Dembo is the greatest ever, 90% of his hits sit first in the ranks before anyone else’s songs. In other words we are saying for Top 10 hits in Zim: 1. Mutadzi Ngaaregererwe (Dembo), 2. Chitekete (Dembo), 3. Madhiri (Dembo), 4. Gire (Dembo), 5. Mudazvevamwe (Dembo), 6… 7…We can reach up 15th before we find a song from some other musician other than Dembo in the rankings − Obvie Marimbire
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It’s hard to say Chitekete is the best song ever released by a Zimbabwean, there are other songs like Dzandipedza Mafuta by Chopper, Mundikumbuke by Macheso and Mugove by Zhakata which are worthy contenders.
Fans often fail to apply their minds when they say Macheso songs should be top on the list because he outsold Dembo and Zhakata.
This was so because our population in 2000w has increased tremendously as compared to 1994 hence many are albums sold − Maxie Mateyaunga
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Chandinoziva ndechekut Chitekete is the best. yakarira vazhinji vasina maradio saka kana
makutarisa masales nei nei you are not doing justice ipapo, song ya 92, nhasi murikuitaura 33 years later, that means a lot − Kudzi Muchenje
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I don’t think there can ever a song that will be timeless, best of all times.
Nah! It’s an overstatement. We have different seasons in a year summer where we grow food and harvest, how do we relate a song to that, we get into winter and spring, August where we celebrate our heroes, does a song relate to that?
If we cannot relate to a song in circumstances just like we do with, #TormentedSoul during our dark moments, #IKisimusiisifikile during Christmas I think in the same vein a song has its time.
A song to be considered greatest of all-time based on sales at a particular time is to me shallow and lazy.
Now let’s get down to critical thinking, what are the themes that are tackled in a song?
Can we say that a song about a poor young man proposing love to a sophisticated girl beyond their reach best captures the Zimbabwean situation to make it the greatest of all time?
Is this what we live for, all the time? Courtship and infatuation?
The climax of the song is where the young man eventually claims his trophy, and finally marries the dream girl, so what is extraordinary here?
For us to talk about a song as the greatest of all-time it should tackle common but critical issues relating to human, social, economical, technological, agricultural, spiritual, intellectual, historical development of a society.
To celebrate a mere love song presented in a single line of thought perspective without crazy twists is lazy to me.
While I respect other’s point of view I hope they will do the same for me. − Victor Katsande
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Chitekete is not the best song vanhu musanyeperane inotokundwa maviews naMutadzingaaregererwe … Dembo ayiva nenungo, one beat whole song wakaterera music yake.
Kuti best song from Zim hedu tinenge takutarisa kuna Tuku becoz his music is international… Todii ndiyo song yatinototi best because ine African award.
Nguva Yakaoma is one of the best only yakabuda vanhu vazhinji vasati vane nemaradio taitoenda kumaraini or shops kunoterera − Debra Nyandebvu
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Chitekete was a hit. It turned Zimbabwe upside down. Followed by Mugove LKZ then Mabhawuwa, Solo naMutsai, Mundikumbuke,Todiii, Mai va Rubhi, True Love, Dzandipedza Mafuta etc − Reader
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Chitekete is not even Zim’s best song of all time. Pane song inonzi Todii by Tuku it made waves across Africa, Kenya, Uganda, SA, Tanzania, Malawi etc and team racho rairidza this song on their weddings thinking it’s a LOVE song. − Reader
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Chitekete munoida because it was played at the Miss World beauty pageant because there
was a Zim model there who was competing! And Chitekete yakangorira muZim chete yakatadza kutererwa kunze zvakaita kana song yekuti Neria ya Tuku − Rose-Laila McKenzie
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Kuenzanisa Chitekete na Ruzhowa zvakafanana nekuenzanisa Messi na Yamal kune vanoziva
bhora. It’s just kuti Yamal ari kupisa now asi after 5 yrs Ruzhowa inenge ichiri kurira here nekunakidza like zvinoita Chitekete ukairidza? − Donald Mutasa
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Ukangoona chinhu chichi compare nechekuma 1988 or 1994 uku ziva kuti hachina kugonekwa
song yegore rino irikufananidzwa nedze kuma 90s kureva dzakaridza kare dzopisa kudarika yako − Norest Mutyasira
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Ingotii kambo kanonzi Ruzhowa kanondinakidza especially ndamboti one or two kkkk . Mugove na Chitekete three decades down the line dzichiri kurira. Avo ndeve 2 min vofedha.
Views on YouTube are not votes. Even ndikafamba ndisina kupfeka vanhu vanoungana. Even CAPS United can attract thousands of fans to “view” them in stadiums but it does not necessarily mean they are the best kkkkk .
Pana Ruzhowa mbira idzo beat racho ndera Marshall Munhumumwe. Jah ndomufarira hangu but apo anoremerwa − Ashton Kamutyira
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It is too early guys to compare Chitekete with Jah Prayzah’s recently produced song. And
l can say it’s very unfair.
As l am speaking l have never heard it so far.
So just wait for it to reach the world. Give it at least five yrs and see if it can be still playing in the streets.
Play Chitekete now and listen carefully. It’s like it was produced last month. Guys the thing you are doing It’s very unfair.
If Dembo woke up and hears that you are comparing him with Jah Prayzah, it disturbs him.
Jah Prayzah produces good music l don’t want to lie but not to the level of the late Dembo − Washington Mumvuri
