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the King, behold there came wise men from the east of Jerusalem saying ‘Where is He that is born King of the Jews?’ for we have seen his star in the east and we have come to worship him”
Reference to wise men from the east is not only true in biblical terms but also a reality in modern day Zimbabwe’s pop world.
It seems all good musicians who have ended up in Harare have come from the east of the country. East means from Rusape, Mutare, Nyanga to Chipinge. To name only a few, (some still popular, others deceased or forgotten), here is a list of good musicians who trekked from the east to the capital since the 1950s:
George Gideon Sisimayi of “Ndapera neCha-Cha-Cha Amai” fame, Greenford Jangano of the Harare Mambo Band, Jethro Shasha, Fungai Malianga, Roger Hukuimwe, Dr MacCloud Chitiyo, Ephat Mujuru, Stephen “Dhongi” Makoni, Dumi Maraire, Chiwoniso Maraire, Bob Nyabinde, Serebede, Leonard Zhakata, Bothwell Nyamhondera, Hosiah Chipanga, Sam Mataure, Terry Yon’s Combo, Penny Yon, Assegai Crew, Newman Chipeni, Agnes Zengeni, Johnathan Chieza, The Follies, David Matereke, and Safirio “Mukadota” Madzikatire.
They all trekked down to the capital because this is the place which has been central for the music business over the years as it is pregnant with recording companies, recording studios and record distribution networks.
One group in particular, The RUNN Family, did not want to leave Mutare because of its tight and close family links. It feared that once in Harare, individuals would pursue different agendas and the nuclear family would disintegrate.
The Runn (Real Unique Natural Notion) Family Band was formed in Mutare, a town situated in the Eastern Districts of Zimbabwe, in 1979. The band comprised mostly members of the Muparutsa family with Jerry Muparutsa on guitar, Mike Muparutsa on keyboards, Peter Muparutsa on bass and vocals, Fortune Muparutsa on vocals, Tendai Muparutsa on vocals and Lawrence Muparutsa on drums as the band’s main members. The only two outsiders, Godfrey and John Mukwananzi, who were twin brothers, joined the band much later but left in 1990.
Most of the Runn Family’s live performances were done in Mutare until 1981 when they were persuaded by Steve Roskilly of Shed Studios, their recording company, to perform in Harare in order to promote record sales.
They later broke away from Shed to join Gramma Records in 1986 and immediately released the hit single which put them on the map, “Hatichina Wekutamba Naye” which was a song dedicated to the late Mozambican president, Samora Machel. Stephen Makoni would always take the mick out of them whenever this song was played. He would say: “Tibvirei apa. Mune zera naSamora here kana muchiti hatichina wekutamba naye?” (Get away! Are you of the same age with Samora to want to play with him?).
The single, which commemorated the death of Samora Machel, received massive response from the public. A video featuring the song was done by Mango Productions, a Danish company, and this was shown all over the world.
In 1987, the band released “Moyo Muti”, another massive hit and this was followed by a song for President Mugabe’s inauguration simply entitled “President Mugabe”.
In 1988, the Runn Family were part of a national symposium on Child Survival and Development and one of their songs was adopted as the theme song for the Child Survival concerts which followed.
In 1988 they won the Local Pop Band contest, and their drummer, Lawrence Muparutsa, was voted the best drummer in 1988 while Peter Muparutsa was voted the best vocalist.
Releases such as “Nhapitapi Chete” (which was later used for advertising Sun jam), and “You are My Everything” although they received very little promotion, became classical hits for the band and many people identified the group with the former song. Their debut album was released at the end of 1990 and this established the Runn Family as a force to reckon with.
The Runn Family shared the stage with well-known artistes such as Misty in Roots, Jimmy Cliff, Harry Belafonte, Manu Dibango, Miriam Makeba, Maxi Priest and Princess when these artistes came to perform in Zimbabwe.
As the members had predicted before leaving Mutare, in 1990 Fortune Muparutsa left the band for a solo career while Peter Muparutsa, the lead singer and bass player, became a part-time member of the band after taking on a full-time job at Gramma Records’ Mosi-oa-Tunya Studios, which he later left to join Records and Tape Promotions. (RTP)
Undaunted the rest of the Muparutsa family went back to Mutare where they continued to play together without the powerful voice of Peter. Tendai eventually left and joined another group known as Assegai Crew which also trekked down to Harare where they were contracted to play at the George Hotel in Avondale. Tendai later passed on. Fortune, who was now based in England, also died in mysterious circumstances in 2008.
Other Muparutsa family members who became brilliant musicians in their own right include Blessing, who is currently playing drums in Dudu Manhenga’s Color Blu, Tendai Muparutsa (not to be confused with the first Tendai), who is doing a PhD in music in Canada, and Adrian Tonderai Muparutsa, who has just completed a degree in jazz at the University of Cape Town and is going to undertake a master’s programme in September in the United States.
Another wise man from the east is Steve Chikotie, who released his second album entitled “Nzendo/Journeys” only two weeks ago and was launched in Harare at Jazz 105.
Chikotie, a self-taught guitarist and singer, moved to Mutare from Masvingo some 21 years ago where he joined Sam Mataure in Shato band before joining a tour to the United States with Africa University choir as a tenor.
His first album, recorded in 2009, is called “Wega”.
In “Nzendo/Journeys”, Chikotie shares his wisdom with the public through songs such as “Let’s Get Selfish”, “Makuhwa Uroyi”, “Muroora” and “It’s Cold Outside” with help from prolific instrumentalists such as Clive Mono Mukundu on guitar, Tinashe Mukarati on saxophone, Philip Svosve on saxophone, Aaaron Yafele on trombone and Carlton Muparutsa (yet another Muparutsa!) on drums.
Wisemen who have seen the star from the east, recently got together and asked themselves how they can protect their brilliant productions from piracy. A suggestion was made to ask organisations such as the National Arts Council, Zimura and Apoz to lobby Parliament so that it can put in place legislation which ensures that all blank CDs are priced at a minimum of US$5 each instead of US$1 a dozen. This is a great idea. After all, wise ideas came with the wise men from the east. It’s in the Bible. If this is enforced, all piracy activities would stop immediately. There must be something mysterious about coming from the east. Even in history, the Boer immigrants who followed the great trek ran eastwards in search of freedom.
l Fred Zindi is a professor at the University of Zimbabwe. He is also a musician and an author of several books on music. He can be contacted via e-mail on [email protected]