Today on #SunguraFriday, we feature The Kasongo Band!

You can’t talk Sungura history without talking about these pioneers

Here’s the story of one of the most important Sungura bands … and one of the
funniest music beefs ever, marked by diss tracks — and juju.

🧵 Kasongo: Ketai Muchawaya, Dhembo Mapfumo (rhythm) Fainos Mapurisa (bass), Rex Moto Moto (drums), Joseph Muwema (lead), Marko Sibanda, Knowledge Kunenyati, Maggie Gweshe, Jack Ncube, Chenjerai Musere, dancers Hellen and Ceresensia

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... 😎

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.

🧵 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.

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)

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

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.

#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.

<thread>

So, which famous artiste did your home town give us?

Ava takapihwa neChinhoyi 😎 Mutare gave us this icon!

Top 40 at #ZimAt40 🇿🇼
Zimbabwe has had some fine artistes over the past 40 years. People who created diverse musical identities that we know today as “Zimbabwean music”.
Here, we present our Top 40 of the past 40 years, in no real order.
A tribute thread, not a ranking!
Hande! 1. Oliver Mtukudzi: A career that stretched over 40 years, with an incredible 67 albums. A real Zimbabwean hero, who carried our flag around the continent and beyond!

On #InternationalWomensDay we celebrate all the Zimbabwean women who have, throughout our history, created music and broken barriers! In the 70s, one of the biggest artistes in the country was Susan Mapfumo. Very forceful singer whose songs were unapologetically feminist.

“Handitambwe iyoyo...”

#InternationalWomensDay

Standing by for #SunguraFriday like...
*coughs* 😎 Today, we pay tribute to Tuku on this week’s edition of #SunguraFriday. Impossible to cover his long, rich story here, so decided to talk more about the earlier years, before his 1999 Tuku Years.

It’s this super group today on #SunguraFriday!

Stand by 😎 (⬅️ Don Gumbo emoji) First, to answer @iMisred

In the pic, top to bottom; Virgillio Ignacio and Keith Farquharson (the two keyboardists)

From left, Charlie Mangena, Andy Brown, Busi Ncube, Don Gumbo, Gibson Nyoni

https://twitter.com/imisred/status/1074950825104023552?s=12

There are conflicting accounts of events in Simon’s youth. Some say he was abducted by freedom fighters but sent back because he was too young. Others say he left of his own accord to join the struggle. Some say he never left at all. #SunguraFriday What we know is that, late 70s, Simon and Naison moved to Gillingham (now Dzivarasekwa), staying with a relative.
And they spent time moving around the bars, singing for patrons. They even sang on buses.

After widespread national consultations, and meticulous verification, it has been decided that the first artiste to feature today on #SunguraFriday is James Chimombe.

What’s your fave song from the man? Did this brief write-up on James Chimombe, the King of Cool

soundsofsungura.tumblr.com/post/748276672…