We shall forever miss you Tongai Moyo

would like to convey my heartfelt condolences and sadness at the loss of a fine musician, accomplished composer, songwriter and stage master.
Tongai Moyo brought a fresh and professional touch to the popular music genre – sungura music.

Sungura music found its popularity in Zimbabwe through the late musicians like Simon “Chopper” Chimbetu, Leonard “Musorowenyoka” Dembo, System Tazvida and John Chibadura.
But the music was popularised, perfected and exported by musicians like the late Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo and the living legend Alick “Extrabasso” Macheso.
Where on earth will you find people with extraordinary talent, like dancing, song writing, composing and playing the guitar all in one?
These extraordinary skills and rare talent are found in musicians like the late Tongai Moyo, Alick Macheso and “Big Dhara” Oliver Mtukudzi.
“Dhewa” or “Igwee-e-e” as he was popularly known led by example and would always put on the latest designer apparels that made him look like multi-millionaire Congolese rhumba maestro Koffi Olomide.

His melodious voice was a joy to listen to, always hitting the right chords and a marvel to watch on stage.
Dhewa used to respect his fans a lot and we were very good friends.
There was a mutual relationship between him and his multitudes of fans before and during show breaks we could discuss about indigenisation and black economic empowerment.

You could hear Dhewa chanting “Japa Japa! Japa Japa! Indigenisation – tipeika mari yacho yemabusiness.”
It was a joy to watch and to hear your name being called out amongst hundreds of music fans, as it was a sign of respect.
I usually do not dance at musical shows but with Dhewa, Macheso and Tuku you are forced to be on your toes on every song.

Big up to our living and late music legends as the saying goes: “the best die young” so was Dhewa, Simon Chimbetu, John Chibadura, System Tazvida, James Chimombe and their legacy shall live on.
These musicians left an indelible mark for the youngsters to imitate.

I shall never forget Dhewa’s magnificent stage work, which was combined with disciplined flamboyant and beautiful dance routines.
Dhewa was a good example of how one can fight against hereditary and chronic diseases like cancer whose end result are obviously fatal.

In European countries where there are advanced medical equipment, doctors actually inform the patient about the date and time when a cancer patient will die, like what happened to Bob Marley, who was informed of the day he was going to die.

He retorted by requesting the medical team to facilitate his repatriation back to Jamaica before dying.
Dhewa was strong and spiritually, he continued singing until his last days.

A strong character in human life is made up of the soul, spirit and the Holy Spirit.
If everything is operating at one place all the time, then we have characters like Dhewa.

His music has got depth and he always preached the Word of God, which is a good thing for his followers.
He was also a teacher of the “Word of God” as during his shows he would order his band members to “pull it off” so that he could narrate some verses from the Bible showing that he was a born again Christian.

To Dhewa, I will continue to follow your group and I am strongly urging the band to remain intact.
I urge senior group members like Shiga Shiga and Spencer Khumulani, including the heir apparent Peter Moyo to conduct business professionally.

One thing that has destroyed most successful musical groups is greed.
May your Soul Rest in Eternal Peace brother Tongai and may the Almighty Lord bless your Son Peter, so that he can manage the band professionally.