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May 15, 2021 16 tweets 5 min read Read on X
Here it is. The @SunguraCentral Top 10 Sungura lead guitarists of all time:

Note: 🎸Sungura only (for now). List not in any order.
1. Frank Sibanda - Four Brothers. Here’s a medley of some of Frank’s most memorable riffs.
Peak Frank Sibanda, on the Four Brothers tour of UK

Here’s a thread on the Four Brothers
2. Jonah Moyo
He actually started out on rhythm before the band recorded, but took up lead. Good call. Definitely one of the best to ever pick up a guitar - even that uniquely shaped one that he’s had for years

Here’s a profile on Devera Ngwena: Small town boys who made it big sunguracentral.tumblr.com/post/735040541…
3. John Chibadura
The man had a unique guitar plucking style that NOBODY has been able to replicate since. A true lead guitar icon. Watch him work his magic

4. Nicholas Zakaria
From a Mazowe band called...wait for it... the Green Mangoes, to one of the most influential figures in Sungura. One of the steadiest hands on a Sungura guitar. This riff on Mazano is fire 🔥
Lecture in session!
5. Never Moyo:
ODK had great lead guitarists - Allan, Shepherd Mande, George Fero - but had to pick one, and it can only be Never. Always liked how he weaved his guitar around Chopper’s vocals...
6. Big debate on who which of the Orchestra Mberikwazvo lead men to pick. Will go with Donald Gogo; for those of us who prefer the earlier Macheso years
Four more to go. Who to leave out? Who to add?
7. Zhakata’s lead guitarist was a real one. This sequence on Mugove is iconic. Antony Bizek.
8. Dhewa: He once said it took him a while to actually master the guitar. His skills were often underrated. This guitar work on Ndinotenda Dhiya was what they call rapid fire
9. Admire Kasenga: Often overlooked on such lists, but the man could play. Nothing fancy, just sheer brilliance. These intros...
10. 🐐

No words. Just marinate yourself in these intros.

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More from @SunguraCentral

Feb 16
Talking about musicians and “borrowing” (*ahem*) from other artists, here’s a thread of some pieces of Zim music that are similar to others.

1/ Kwedu by Sulu Chimbetu (ft Tuku) vs Kasuku by Orchestra Les Wanyika

2/

Did you know Macheso’s ‘Mundikumbuke’ isn’t the original?
Original by Malawian singer (and politician) Lucius Banda.
Cheso did it better though... 😎

3/

Guitar riff on Kanda Bongoman’s JT vs Zhakata’s Mugove. Still think LKZ did it better

Read 15 tweets
Mar 28, 2023
The story of Leonard Dembo The Perfectionist, and how he recorded an album TWICE:

Did you know: at one time, Dembo recorded an album, then demanded that it be recalled because he didn’t like it.

Here’s the story 🧵
2/ After the hit Chitekete, Leonard Dembo had a fight with his record company, Gramma. He felt they didn’t pay him enough. They increased his paycheque. Too late. He left anyway!

“Kupai kune chinyemu…” he probably sang as he slammed the door on his way out of there.
3/ Mike Ralph, a record executive who had just formed the RTP label, happily signed Dembo. Dembo was sent to Shed Studios to record ‘Mazano’. Steve Roskilly was the producer. The album came out, 30 000 copies were printed.
Then Dembo changed his mind…
Said nah. We messed up.
Read 7 tweets
Jan 21, 2022
🧵 The music journey of Zexie Manatsa starts with two gifted brothers – and two stolen guitars.

Here’s a #SunguraFriday thread on the late Zexie Manatsa and his legendary Green Arrows
In the late 50s-60s, Zexie and his brother Stanley are playing makeshift guitars and penny whistles to entertain folks around the mines of Mhangura and Chinhoyi.
The boys are so good, they’re hired by a businessman, Mujakachi, who runs a popular bar in Chinhoyi. Those days, bar/hotel owner would hire resident band. The bar owners supplied the instruments. That way, the owners had control over everything.
Read 29 tweets
Aug 7, 2021
So we all know Dhewa was a big fan of Leonard Dembo and was greatly inspired by him.
Here’s a thread of a few guitar lines and rhythms Tongai sampled from Dembo. Share if you spot more

1. Ndazvimba mapapu vs Vakafa Vachitambura

2. Handibvume (Tongai) and Ndozvireva Kunaani (Dembo)
3. Tsamba Ndanyora (Tongai) and Usakudze Kupopota (Dembo).
You can also add Kapuka Kanonzi Rudo on this one
Read 6 tweets
Jul 30, 2021
Biggie Tembo, born Rodwell Marasha in 1958, committed suicide on this day (30 July) 1995.
He was just 36!

Biggie Tembo joined the Bhundu Boys in 1980. The band was called The Wild Dragons at the time. This was the line-up in 1983:
Franco Kaunda, Biggie Tembo, Kenny Chitsvatsva and band leader Rise Kagona
While Rise Kagona was founder/leader, there was no doubt that Biggie had the charisma, high-energy stage performer, and a hell of a songwriter.
"Hasitose" is one of the songs he wrote early in his career.
Biggie’s charisma was an asset, but later was to become a problem
Read 22 tweets
Jan 17, 2021
#Thread So, a long-ish thread on Zim gospel.

It’s hard to know where to start; Freedom Sengwayo? Machanic Manyeruke? Jordan Chataika? Brian Sibalo? We’ll share very brief histories on them.
Some of the pioneers of recording gospel music: In the 70s, these two young nuns, Gertrude Matsika and Tendai Maminimini, defied church convention and patriarchy and took up guitars and recorded music.
Jordan Chataika: Born in Bulawayo in 1939. In 1960, aged 21, he got a job as petrol attendant at Kamfinsa. There, he taught a work colleague how to play a guitar. Impressed, that fella’s dad bought Jordan a new guitar.
Read 44 tweets

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