Thread by @RangaMberi

Greetings.
Celebrating #ZimAt42 with a thread of my Top 25 Zim songs of all time.

Far too many songs to pick from. But each of these songs on my list carries a special memory of growing up in Zim for me.
(Save for # 1, not in any order)

🧵Here goes🧵

1. Simukai - Pied Pipers

Not just my fave Zim song, but just my fave song, period. Takes me back to my childhood, on the lawn, in those ridiculous adidas shorts and North Stars, Simukai playing out of the Tempest radio, eating a sherbet.

It lifts my spirits. Every time.

2. Spirit - Andy Brown

This was Andy at the top of his creative game. Two-minutes into the song, Andy delivers one of the best guitar solos of all time, by any guitarist, anywhere.

3. Wandirasa - Chiwoniso

Guys, she was 21 when she wrote this song. TWENTY ONE!
Ancient Voices is one of the best albums ever. Ever.

Did I mention she was 21 when she wrote this?

4. Ndingazviite Sei - Biggie Tembo

Bhundu Boys are my fave Zim band, and Biggie was in his element on this one. It’s that sort of song that ‘understands’ you and gives you hope when you’re down.

5. Kudendere - Harare Mambos

“Amainini mune matyira / kana iri purezha kumusha kune mabira / Kana iri mari tobike ndari / Toudza baba kuti kuno kune kakari…”

They don’t write them like this anymore. They just don’t.

6. Sarura Wako - Leonard Dembo

My number 1 song, from my number 1 artiste. The best Sungura intro ever, Shepherd Akim was imperious on bass, and Leonard’s vocals were that extra-smooth topping that makes this song ever so perfect.

7. Ndakakubereka - Tuku

My favourite from one of my faves. It holds a special memory for me; a hot day, sitting in the back seat of the car, driving down a long straight in the sugar plantations in Triangle, the song playing over the radio.

8. Ndibvumbamireiwo - Four Brothers

Depth in lyrics. Perfection on instrumentals. Never Mutare’s bass, Frank Sibanda’s lead, Alex Chipaika holding all down on rhythm. There’s a 2-minute sequence that simply defies gravity. Genius

9. Tinodanana - Mapfumo

Never has brass sounded so good. Everson Chibamu and Temba Ncube on mabhosvo, Charles Mayana on bass, Sebastian Ferado on drums, the legendary due of Jonah Sithole and Leonard ‘Pickett’ Chiyangwa on guitar. My fave Mukanya tune.

10. Zambezi to Limpopo - Midnite Magic

A song well ahead of its time, from a band well ahead of its time; Prince Tendai and Midnite Magic created this absolute gem. Oh, the bassline.

11. Umoya Wami - Lovemore Majaivana

Where does one start with this one? The deep lyrics, telling sad story of displacement? Or just the musical arrangement alone? Sometimes I just slide on the headphones to soak in the instrumentation. (Aside: Dabuka Mhlaba my # 2 Majee tune)

12. The River - Michael Lannas

Michael Lannas had many great songs. But this one, oh man, how did they even do this? It’s a pure work of art. Funny, but this song evokes memories of the aroma of Plaza Bakery bread, on sunny, chilled Saturday mornings back in the day

12. Waiting for a New Day - Edwin Hama

Struggled to pick one from my two fave Ediwn Hama songs. The other is ‘Dreams of a Home’. But this one has a special place in my heart. An uncle I loved so much loved this tune. RIP Sekuru Adie! 🙏🏾

14. Mwenza - Leonard Zhakata

He has many big ones, but this is my number 1 LKZ jam. Didn’t understand a lot of what it meant till I asked @lmakombe to translate the deep language. Brilliant.

15. Pamuchato waTobias - Admire Kasenga

Pure Sungura. The sort they don’t make anymore. Danced to this late into the night on the eve of a certain wedding, and we woke up late and the event almost went ahead without me.

I was the groom.

16. Vanondivenga- Tobias Areketa

Thank heavens he left his job as an under-utilised chanter/dancer at belcher-in-chief Mapfumo’s band.

What more can you ask for from a song? Smooth vocals? Done. Brass? There you go. Bassline? Inject it.

17. Kudakwashe - Jimmy Chimombe

A toss-up between this one, and another one called Rudo. But this one really cuts deep. Remember watching it on Ezomgido and being totally absorbed by his genuine emotion. Later learned he was singing a true life story

18. Makatukura - Zig Zag Band

A band from the country’s best town. This one is my number one from them. A cutting social commentary on the 'haves' and the 'have nots'.
(The only bad thing about Kwekwe? You have to drive through dismal Kadoma to get there)

19. Shumaira - Dr Footswitch

A song played well before I was born, some time in the 70s, but one that I feel right in the chest. Loved it so much, named my daughter after it (kind of).

20. Tshisalanga - Ilanga

When they give out lessons on how to arrange a song, they should put this one in Tutorial 101. A band so full of talent, and they displayed it best here for me. Andy’s guitar, Don’s bass and his mournful vocals. This is what good music sounds like.

21. Ndinokudai - Family Singers

Takes me back to an interesting time in my youth. What a time. Using that bassline and percussion, these guys simply broke the walls; church music didn’t need to be boring. Zim Gospel music changed forever after this.

22. Zuva Rekufa Kwangu - Chibadura

Once had a long quarrel with a comrade of mine about which of John’s two big reggae hits was best. He went for ‘Mudiwa Janet’. I said it’s this one.

We don’t speak anymore. Why should someone have a different opinion to mine, surely? Imagine.

23. Nerudo/Zvikomborero - Cde Chinx

I’ve never been able to pick which one between these two Chinx tunes hit the hardest.

Will just spin both.

24. Carry the Message - Transit Crew

Growing up, we didn't have a lot of local reggae/dancehall. Transit Crew were our icons. All I wanted to do was go to Stodart Hall, thinking I'd find Culture T there, chilling, toasting. Loved this song to bits

25. Pretend it never happened - Peace of Ebony

Can’t believe this is 30 years old. Class never fades. One of the pioneers of Zim Hip Hop.

At Cde Chinx’s funeral, someone said this:

“Nothing can carry the history of a country, through generations, better than a song"

Happy Uhuru Day cdes #zim42 #ZimAt42 🇿🇼
✊🏽