Zimbabwea��s longest recorded songs

Bruce Ndlovu
Over the years, the country has had the pleasure of hearing top notch songs whose greatness can be attributed to a number of varied reasons.

While some might gravitate towards songs that are heavily loaded with social commentary, others might find pleasure in party songs whose sole purpose is to get onea��s feet moving.

In this regard, it is also important to note that Zimbabwean artistes have over the years disregarded normal song structure in favour of song lengths that enable them to get across whatever message or feeling they are trying to convey in their music.

It is with this in mind that some of the countrya��s best songs, particularly in the sungura genre, have been unusually long.

According to the website, Sounds of Sungura, Mitchell Jambo and Marunga Brothersa�� songA� is the longest song in Zimbabwean recording history, clocking in at an incredible 25:30 minutes.

The song itself is a tribute of sorts, as Mitchell Jambo uses his courtship of a simple girl as a vehicle to pay homage to many of Zimbabwe music greats.

Jambo drops a heavyweight list of some of the countrya��s greats from Lovemore Majaivana to John Chibadura, Paul Matavire and Leonard Dembo. The likes of Dembo and Matavire, who was known for his humorous mid-song sexual commentary, do not come close to toppling Jamboa��s record despite lengthy tunes of their own.

Demboa��s Zvaunoda Handizvigoni, which clocks in at 15:53 minutes, comes in a distant second while Chitekete, thought by many to be Demboa��s longest, is 14:10.

Some of the countrya��s new breed of dancehall artistes have done long medleys on riddims, but none have done so in formally released songs.