Kwekwe City has been misunderstood by many people especially scribes and music promoters from Harare, who have labeled or described Kwekwe as a “Sleepy City or Town”. Far from it, Kwekwe is not sleepy at all, it is awake, wide awake. How can a “Sleepy City” be home to music legends as the late Tongai Moyo, Emmanuel Nkomo,Mudhara Scott Mlhanga of the legendary original Zig Zag Band. Bob Nyabinde “The Jazz Headmaster” hails from Kwekwe, Steve Makoni cut his musical career here in Kwekwe. Even Oliver Mtukudzi once made Kwekwe his base in the late 80s and worked with Zig Zag Band and recorded an album which had great tracks like yaNhopi. The late Robson Banda once made Kwekwe his home. Also the late Goden Aliphanti who once scooped Chibuku Road to Fame Prize had his roots in Kwekwe.
Young and successful musicians like Alexio Gwenzi popularly known as Good child Nato Faya, The Cowboys, Bernard Mpofu of the now defunct The Cool Breeze, Bantuman I, Terry and Bliss (Winner of 2012 Chibuku Road to Fame), the now defunct Cool Blaze (who once represented Midlands at Music Crossroads in 2008), Ronnie Mudhindo, Tinashe Kasamba, Steamers are putting Kwekwe on the entertainment map.
“You can definitely say Kwekwe city is not sleepy, this city has produced musical giants like,Tongai Moyo, Zig Zag Band, Bob Nyabinde, Ronnie Mudhindo,young Igwee Peter Moyo(who is courting the press for wrong reasons he should concentrate on improving his music),and many others who developed their talent in this city, we even got upcoming artists like Goodchild, Terry and The Bliss,Nato Faya who are creating ripples in the music circles,” observed Joseph Mututi the brainchild of the now defunct Kwekwe Music Awards(KWEMA),which used to give out awards to musicians who had excelled in Kwekwe.
History has it that the Zig Zag Band comprising of the late Emmanuel Nkomo, George Lunga, Fabion, Stanley Gunde are the music pioneers that put Kwekwe on a map in terms of music. Their hit song Gomo remasare propelled Zig Zag Band to limelight. It was played on air and their video featured prominently on ZTV programme Mvengemvenge. Zig Zag went to release their debut album Child Survival which became an instant hit and in the process proving them to be a force to reckon in the music circles. Their Chigiyo music become a talk in Show business as it carried its own unique flavor. Wherever they held live shows, they proved beyond doubt that Kwekwe had extraordinary talent
Then entered the late Tongai Moyo into the fry, he single handedly changed the music landscape in Kwekwe and Zimbabwe as a whole. The Muchina Muhombe proved beyond doubt that the “The city of Gold” is also home to music in the country. There is no musician from Kwekwe who can surpass what The Igwee did for Kwekwe.
Bob Nyabinde is also another artiste who has done Kwekwe ‘wonders’ in show business. When you talk of Afro Jazz in Zimbabwe,’The Headmaster of Jazz”, as he is affectionately known in the music fraternity, his name crops up, Bob begun serious jazz when he teamed up with Tom Elifat, late Andrew Gama, Methuzela Mpofu (now in south Africa), late Joseph Chakanyuka, Victor Shoniwa as Savanna Drive at a hotel in Kwekwe City as a resident band, and released their debut album Pane Nyaya. “So how can you say Kwekwe is ‘a sleepy town’ when we have musicians who are considered to be crème de la crème of Zimbabwe. We still have a lot of talent that only need to be tapped in Kwekwe. There is need of improvement of night life in Kwekwe, what is only needed is for the proprietors of these outlets to give respect to musicians and also pay them decently for services rendered. Proprietors of city entertainment outlets must take a cue from their counterparts from Bulawayo and Harare.
You cannot talk of Kwekwe greats without mentioning Dj Stavo who is currently putting Kwekwe and Zimbabwe on the map. Dj Stavo recently won a ZIMA Video of the Year Award.
Then on talent developing there is Kwekwe Arts and Media Community Centre (KWAMECC) based at Amaveni Hall, which is developing arts among the youth and the underprivileged in the city. Kwamecc is currently working with Jibilika one of the country’s best dance outfit to hold a “Dance Workshop” for the young dancers in Kwekwe. Currently dance workshops are now being held at Amaveni Hall under the watchful eyes of Enock Sithole and Owen Makombe.
