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Fred Zindi Music
There couldn’t have been a better venue in Chitungwiza to compliment the sullen intimacy of Tony Rebel (pictured) than The Aquatic Complex where police with dogs patrolled the entrance and the perimeter fences.
At a gig dubbed “The Inauguration”, the Rebel Jamaican singer-songwriter, crooned and moaned over the crowd; his poetic flow having all the virile consistency of roots rock reggae, sometimes digressing to the lucid lilt of dancehall. Before that, a whole heap of dancehall artistes had graced the stage and we had been treated to enough dancehall from the likes of Freeman, Jiggaz, Guspy Warrior, Sniper Storm, Platinum Prince, Kinah, King Labash, Bounty Lisa, Spiderman, Shinsoman, Ricky Fire, Jay C, Killer T, Lady Squanda and Dadza D.
Rebels, as I call him, with the powerful backing of Hotta Fire Band in association with Ras Trevor Hall on congas, J. Farai, Mannex Motsi and Lady Thanda on backing vocals, lulled the sold-out show to a sensitive, transfixed sublimity. Other times he would rip into joyous reservations of expansive noise, both of which had the audience reeling as he exchanged smiles and fist bumps.
Opening the set with “Jah Will Never Let Us Down”, Rebel’s grizzled melodies refracted into a million haunting shards, sounding both damaged, yet beautiful. An over-eager fan on the far right groaned into the air, missing the frontman’s own cue and sending the venue into giggles.
Rebels responded with “Hypocrite” and “Pretenders’ Paradise”, eliciting a sing-a-long both sedated and overpowering, respectively. Later on, the bright-eyed chords of “Sweet Jamaica” glazed audiences into a balmy stupor, while the backhanded optimism of “Fire” and “Teach The Children” found Rebel dispelling some anxiety much to his own satisfaction. When he got to sing “Armour”, the whole venue went into a frenzy as he exuded high energy which must have come from someone nourished with a regular diet of ackee and salt fish together with rice and peas. Indeed, it was mesmerising. It took me back to the good old days of Steel Pulse’s David Hinds singing “You Hypnotise Me With The Music That You Dancing To”.
The night before, Tony Rebel had performed at the Shoko Festival on the Chiwoniso Maraire stage where attendance was rather low and I felt that Rebels was too big a name to mess around with a small crowd.
Even Hope Masike, who graced the stage to sing the Shona version of “Jah Standing By My Side” felt that the concert could have been better attended. So the night at Aquatic Complex did justice to my expectation.
This night Tony Rebel who went on stage at 2am, positioned himself a few feet away from the audience and myself, staring daggers into our souls. His face contorted with emotional sincerity, especially during a mid-set appearance of two rub-a-dub tunes “Can’t Work” and “One Day”.
As he lingered ominously over the hollow chords, his eyes shimmered, threatening to expel tears of frustration. And while you couldn’t see this brand of intimacy as the stage lights went on and off, you could certainly feel it. Half way during his set, he took time to talk to the audience and expressed with emotion how he loved Zimbabwe.
He showered praises to Mic Inity, and his band, The Red Radicals who included Nadine Brown who had performed earlier on. He told the audience what a talented young man he was and would match several Jamaican top class singers. He also hailed the Zimbabwean reggae band which was backing him, Hotta Fire for its expertise.
“Everywhere I go, I travel with my band, but with the Zimbabwean tour I was told there was a band that would play for me and with Hotta Fire band there was no difference with my band back home. I was overwhelmed with their performance despite rehearsing in one day only.”
Tony Rebel said the nation has talent that must be promoted and taken for international tours.
“I was stunned by the talent that I have witnessed in Zimbabwe”, he said.
He was also impressed by Mannex Motsi, J. Farai and Lady Thanda when he gave them space to do their own thing. As the crowd went wild, I whispered to a friend standing next to me that Tony Rebel had better be careful as those three could easily steal the show from him.
After this discourse delivered during the set break, Rebels delved into more exhilarating tunes, “Fresh Vegetable” and “Just Friends” before asking the crowd what songs they liked him to play. The crowd started chanting, “Chatty Chatty”. Rebels signalled Hotta Fire Band to “run it” and within seconds, the whole venue was roaring “Chatty Chatty!”
A half- drunk youth man jumped onto the stage, took off his t-shirt and gave it to Tony in exchange for a Rebel Salute scarf. He tried to dance but was too drunk to do a proper job. The stage bouncers next to me were just about to pounce on him, but Rebel’s musical director, Ryan, who is a perfect gentleman, told the bouncer not to touch him. Tony later embraced the drunk man.
The show came to a sudden stop when Rebels grabbed my hand and dragged me on to the stage. I thought he want me to dance with him, but alas, he stopped singing and testified before the audience that he and I had met way back in 1993, 20 years ago and we discussed the possibility of a Zimbabwe tour but it never materialised because he was too busy at the time. I was embarrassed. All I did in response was grab the microphone off him and quipped, “Well, that prophecy has now been fulfilled!”.
He then decided to play the tunes which were his hits then in the 1990s. Tony Rebel, coupled with Hotta Fire band’s energy and enthusiasm was contagious, quickly getting the audience caught up in the music, including a massive sing-along on the classic “I Am A Rebel”. He continued to belt many other jams such as “Can’t Recall”, “Know Jah”, “Sweet Aroma”, “One Drop” and “City Life” all of which he sung very beautifully with beads of perspiration pouring down his face.
“If Jah Is Standing By My Side, Why Should I Be Afraid?” was the last song of the set. Everybody, without exception, danced and sang along. Rebels had come to conquer!
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