adminGodwin Muzari : Memory Lane
Can you believe that Suluman Chimbetu, one of the best-dressed musicians on the local scene, once got clothes for a NAMA ceremony from a friend?It was in 2008 when the Dendera musician had been nominated in two categories at the National Arts Merit Awards. His 2007 album was beginning to do well and he was up for the Best Male Artiste and Best Album awards.The nominations came as a surprise to Sulu, as the musician is popularly known, who was still an upcoming musician. He had joined Orchestra Dendera Kings in 2005 after his father’s death and assumed leadership of the group after parting ways with his uncle Allan.
His debut album “Ndomusiya Nani?” came in 2007 and in 2008 Sulu was a NAMA nominee in two categories.
Things were happening so fast for Sulu who had just left his job with the Airforce of Zimbabwe to pursue music full-time.
The album was doing well and the young musician was just beginning to find his footing in the industry, but he was still to have enough experience to manage the big band that his father left.
Most of the band members were older than Sulu and he had not fully gained confidence although his potential was starting to come out of the bud.
Allan’s mismanagement of the band meant that Sulu had to direct most of the income of his early days as a leader towards filling gaps that his uncle had left. He had siblings to look after and a band to keep intact.
So, in terms of the wardrobe, Sulu prioritised acquiring stage outfits for himself and the band. Besides other casual clothes, he had no outfit for special occasions.
Sulu was happy to be nominated because he did not expect it, but his dilemma was what he would wear for the big occasion.
Following the footsteps of his father Simon who was known for his classy fashion taste, Sulu knew he had to be presentable at NAMA. Fans were comparing Sulu with his father in every aspect.
“I was happy and worried. It was a challenge because nothing in my wardrobe was suitable for the occasion,” Sulu told Memory Lane on Wednesday.
“I phoned my friend Joe Nyamungoma (he is now Sulu’s publicist) and told him about the good news. He came and we celebrated the nomination, because for me that was a big achievement. Winning an award would come as a bonus.
“Then I told my friend that I was worried because I did not have clothes to wear at the ceremony. I did not want to be embarrassed and I wanted to look nice. Joe was also worried, but he said he would run around to try to get something nice for me. It was not certain. I did not have money to buy a new outfit and I just waited.”
Sulu was correct to be worried because the issue of dressing has been topical at most awards ceremonies.
At this year’s NAMA ceremony, Josphat Somanje easily got the attention that is now evading him musically by turning up in an unimaginable outfit for such an event.
And Sulu’s prayer was answered when Nyamungoma brought him clothes a day before the ceremony.
“I was relieved. He called to say he had found something for me. He brought white shoes, a green trousers and a green-and-white shirt. We were ready for the event and we celebrated further because I eventually won the Best Album award.
“Up to now, I have not asked Joe how and where he got the clothes.”
Such incident is one of many funny occasions in his career that Sulu can now recount and laugh. It sounds funny now, but then it was a serious issue because he had a brand to maintain. Over the years, Sulu has won many awards and dressing for the occasions is no longer a problem.
He has won awards at Victors Awards, Zimbabwe Music Awards and his best moment was when he scooped three NAMA wards for his album “Syllabus” in 2013.
He won Outstanding Male Musician, Outstanding Album and People’s Choice awards at a ceremony that was held in Bulawayo.
Last year he won three awards at different ceremonies and this year he scooped a ZIMA accolade.
At ceremonies where he personally went to receive his awards, Sulu was perfectly dressed for the occasions.
With the success of his music, Sulu made sure that his wardrobe gets the best attention.
Simon built a brand of style and smartness and Sulu knows he has to maintain it even by the choice of car models he drives.
Sulu says his father managed to build the brand because he was a strict person and thrived to do everything to perfection.
Sulu remembers one incident at their farm that made him realise how strict and principled his father was.
“I was managing our farm in Chegutu and my father said I had to hire people to make a fireguard. He said I should get many people to clear the fireguard using hoes. I realised it would be cheaper and faster to hire a few people to clear the area for a tractor to make the fireguard.
“The job that was supposed to take many days was done in two days at a cheaper cost, but when my father came he was angry. He asked me why I had not obeyed his instructions and said he did not care my method had been more efficient. He said what he wanted in me was obedience more than anything else. I was so frustrated.
“I only got relief after one of his friends at the farm told me how my father was so happy about the way I had done the job. He said my father had praised me so much when they were together. So it means he was happy, but did not want to openly praise me. It seems he did not want me to get into a comfort zone. He wanted to keep me on my toes. That was Simon for you.”
Sulu said, even in music, he will go with his father’s principles. He does not want to get into a comfort zone and does not want to feel like he has achieved enough even if he wins many awards and gets thousands of fans at shows. He knows that a lot of work still has to be done.
Currently he is working on his upcoming album that will be released later this year. He has been spending nights in the studio pushing his work. But the musician says people should know the difference between Sulu and Simon.
“I am not Simon. I am Simon’s son and I will never be Simon. He is my inspiration and I took from where he left but there are many things I do differently. Sometimes people attack me for doing things differently. There is no way we can be exactly the same but I will work hard to keep Dendera music alive. I might add one or two things to the beat. My wish is to see my father’s legacy living forever.”
He has met so many challenges in his career and one of his most disappointing moments was in 2010 when he lost his maternal grandmother who looked after him as a boy.
“It was the most challenging era of my life. I performed at four shows fighting hard to suppress tears and sometimes going back stage to cry. I received the news of my grandmother’s death on a Friday on my way to a show in Chitungwiza. I had three other shows that weekend including an afternoon show and I could not cancel them.
“I could not attend the funeral. I have never had such a hard time on stage, but I had to soldier on. She was buried in my absence and I only went to see her grave the following Monday. It was all because of a busy weekend schedule.”
Busy schedules have become part of Sulu’s life. He holds at least three shows per week and does rehearsals or recordings in mid-week.
He is targeting the last quarter of the year for the release of his new album that will be his sixth after “Ndomusiya Nani?” (2007), “Reverse Deal” (2008) “Non Stop” 2010, “Syllabus” (2012) and “Gunship” (2014).
Online Reporter