Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
THE 90’s urban grooves hit single Tombofara by Calvin and Muzi is back with a bang with the duo teaming up after almost two decades to remix the track into five different genres.
The album featuring the hit track is set to be released in the United Kingdom next month and will be available in Zimbabwe in October.

Those who have never had a feel of the song will even appreciate it more because according to one of the group members Calvin Gudu, it has a new feel with Naija beats, R’n’B and acapella.

Saturday Leisure last week caught up with the UK-based Ncam Ncam and Angeke hit-maker, who was in the country to promote his latest gospel album titled Above All at a hotel in Bulawayo.

The artiste who relocated to the UK in the late 80’s revealed plans to launch the album featuring Tombofara remixes.

“The Tombofara hit will be reworked into six genres with some in acapella, R’n’B and an instrumental. The other will include a Naija beat which will be sung by a local artiste who I can’t reveal, with us backing him,” said Gudu.

The 45-year old musician said the forthcoming album would include a song titled Mombe Yehumai that is making waves at social gatherings and corporate functions in the UK.

Turning to the Zimbabwean music scene, Gudu said it was very competitive judging by the music production standards that local artistes have adopted that are of international standards.

“Youngsters are making music that is very competitive on the international scene so much that I feel that people will fast forget that we and guys like Audius Mutawarira, were the ones who started all this. It’s a good development though,” said Gudu.

He bemoaned the lack of industry savvy managers to handle artistes’ careers and make them international brands like Oliver Mtukudzi.
“Oliver Mtukudzi is an international brand because he has a manager responsible for managing his career focusing on things such as bookings, payment and pushing his brand. All Tuku does is to look at the artistic part as his manager focuses on the rest,” said Gudu.

Gudu is in charge of artiste management in the UK under the company Praise Worth Records.

The artiste said he had turned to gospel music because of his roots and background after having grown up listening to the late Brian Sibalo and Freedom Sengwayo.

The gospel album features songs Great, Praise God, Jesus is my refuge and Lord you are Holy. They all have the signature soulful, mellow beat that Gudu is famed for under the Matonto label.

The four-member Matonto group, formed in the late 80s, comprised Gudu and his brother Christopher who is now in Australia pursuing music, Nobizo “Nono” Mkhwananzi who is in South Africa and Simelweyinkosi Mlaphisane who is in Botswana. The group had a hit single titled Umendo.

Gudu said the gospel album was released in the UK last year, but had not been released in Zimbabwe because of logistical problems.

“Above All was released last year in the UK, but had not reached the Zimbabwe market. We thought that the traditional record labels such as Gramma and ZMC would help us in distribution but it seems that they have their own challenges,” he said.

Gudu said they had since come up with a strategy of distributing the album online and at local departmental stores and churches in the country. The album can be accessed from www.calvingudu.com or www.praiseworthrecords.com.

He left the country for the UK yesterday.

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