Tryson vows to carry forward father’s name

Names that come to mind include Simon, Naison, Allan, Briam, Suluman and the unheralded but talented Tryson, who have contributed immensely to Dendera music in Zimbabwe. Entertainment Editor Ruth Butaumocho caught up with the young, agile and gifted Tryson (TC) to find out more on his career.
RB: Can you tell us about yourself?
TC: I am son to the late Dendera musician, Naison Chimbetu known as Dr Nero. I was born at Harare Central Hospital in 1987 and went to Glen View Primary and High schools up to Form Six.
RB: How did you venture into music?
TC: While growing up, I used to accompany my father for shows in and around Harare. However, I was often relegated to the gate where I would collect cash from music fans and also handle other administrative issues. It was when I was in Form Three that I started rehearsing with him.
It was not easy, but then I had developed a passion for music. I even backed him on an album that was not released because he died while we were still in the process of finalising it. I have it and I am hoping that one day I will be able to record it. Soon after my father died, I tried to team up with Suluman but as you already know, the efforts failed and I had to start my own thing.
RB: How many albums have you released so far and how are they faring on the market?
TC: I have released two albums and I am happy that they are doing quite well. Here and there challenges arise, but I am not complaining.
RB: Being a Chimbetu, does that mean that you cannot play any other music except Dendera?
TC: Being a child of a legendary musician, I feel I have an obligation to carry forward my father’s name, hence the decision to continue with Dendera.
RB: People often say that you are better than Suluman in both voice clarity and choreography when it comes to music. How do you rate yourself?
TC: We both are sons of legendary musicians, and we do the same product, playing Dendera music. However, I have no doubt that we have unique characters that make us who we are and I would not want to say I am better than Sulu.
RB: You became a breadwinner at 16, how have you been managing?
TC: It has not been easy, but I am happy that I learnt a lot from my father, who taught me to be strong in light of adversities of life. When he was alive, he used to tell me that I needed to take up challenges head on as a man so that I would be able to fend for my mother and my two elder sisters.
RB: You once played with your father before he died. What did you learn?
TC: It was difficult working with my father, because he was often hard with me. He was trying to mould me to be a hardworking, consistent, and responsible man in life.
But I don’t have regrets because the experience
alone taught me to look up to life’s experiences with open eyes.
You will be surprised to know that although I accompanied him on most shows, he never taught me to play the guitar for a single day, except teaching me how to sing and control my voice. I had to learn to play the guitar from some of his band members.
RB: You are your own man, you have been writing your own songs. What inspires you?
TC: Dendera music has got a large following not only in Zimbabwe, but also in other countries in the region. There are a lot of people who would want to see the genre develop to a higher scale than where it is right now. When I consider all those factors, I am inspired to do better every time I sit down to compose a song.
RB: You have been having problems with ZMC, your recording company. What are the issues at stake and have they been resolved?
TC: They are far from being resolved and I don’t know whether we will be able to resolve the problems we currently have and I am not at liberty to discuss the issues in the media.
RB: What are your plans?
TC: To take Dendera music to another level and see the genre achieve its former glory.
RB: Anything else you may want your fans to know?
TC: I am currently working on a CD and DVD to be released soon. I also want to take this opportunity to thank my fans for the assistance they have been giving me.
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