23 years later, Leonard Dembo’s music lives on

TAWANDA MARWIZI

On April 9, 1996, Zimbabwe was robbed of celebrated sungura musician Leonard Dembo.

Born Kwangwari Gwaindepi, the musician conquered and one of his songs “Chitekete” was played at the Miss World Finals in 1994.

Tuesday marked 23 years since his death, but his music inspires many people. Songs like “Vana Vanemazita”, “Venencia”, “Madhiri”,“Chitekete” and “Njiva”, among others contain street lingo lyrics.

Despite the stiff competition the genre has faced, his music still commands a wide listenership in the country.

Dembo was born on February 6, 1959, in Chivi, Masvingo.

He moved to Harare wherein he joined a musical outfit Outsiders in 1982. Dembo later joined Five Notes which gave him an opportunity to record songs such as “Manga Majaira Matsotsi”.

The musician had fallout with other members of Outsiders/Five Notes outfit and formed Barura Express in 1985.

Dembo recorded albums such as Amai Nevana Vavo  (1984), Nhamo Moto (1986), Kuziva Mbuya Huudzwa  (1987), Sharai (1987), Kukura Kwedu (1988), Ruva Rashe (1989), Kukura Hakutani (1990), Chitekete  (1991), Tinokumbira Kurara-ma/Madhiri (1992), Mazano (1993), Kutinya Marimba (1993), Nzungu Ndamenya (1994), Pawpaw (1994), Shiri Yakangwara (1995) and Babamunini (1996).

His son Tendai who has taken over as the leader of the Barura Express said they have declared April as a month of commemorating the life of the music icon.

“It might be years since his death but he cannot be forgotten easily. His music still inspires a number of people,” Tendai said.

He said they were making strides to make sure that the fan base of the late musician is not starved to preserve Dembo’s legacy.

“We continue to release music so that his fan base is not starved. I have seen people appreciating and we are grateful as a family,” Tendai said.

He has released two albums Kutsika Matsimba (2013), Mushando (2016) and will tomorrow release his third album, Dzinde.

“The shoes he left are too big for us, so we need time to come up with some good compositions and I am happy that the feedback we always get is positive. So far we have seen several people coming on board assisting us in reviving Dembo’s legacy and we appreciate,” Tendai said.

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