PATIENCE MUSA
For centuries romance and music have gone hand in hand.
What is a dinner date without some memorable tune playing lightly in the background? Before independence ‘dances’ at Stodart Hall in Zimbabwe’s first township – Mbare were a popular courting ground. Those songs still bring back fond memories to generations.
Romantic songs have a way of pulling us through different emotions. In that one song with verses, a chorus and bridge or even instrumentals, one can catch enough feelings to last a life time. Songs whose lyrics make one put words to what is felt, is what at times gives us goose bumps as we listen. You hear a song and think ‘oh my! That’s exactly how I feel…that’s how I feel about THAT person’. Songs put to words that which we fail to express. For every feeling there is a song out there that expresses just that.
Love songs have been inspiring lovers since time immemorial.
Whether it was just the beating of the drums and chanting, Beethovens thumping – tinkling piano, Nat king Cole’s liquid – soothing pitch perfect voice pouring into Fascination… Music is that little extra that aides us in recognising each emotion and puts a name to it.
The search for Zimbabwe’s greatest love song is a lifelong search that will take one through the decades of memorable songs that will pull at the coldest heart strings and breathe in a new life. Every time one thinks that no other artist can do more a new song is born. For the longest time I believed Ruva Rangu by the Pied Pipers and Furuwa by Tairos Tendaupenyu and The rising power to be the most romantic songs to come out of Zimbabwe. What did I know!
One of the major first romantic songs I ever heard was Mukadota’s Katarina mudiwa wangu ndinokuda. At a young age however the meaning was lost on me due to the song being used as an opening billboard to the Mukadota and Family sitcom. Looking back and listening to the lyrics today, yes it is a love song… but could it be the greatest?
Solomon Skuza aka Jah Solo’s You don’t love me anymore is quite a record! It makes me wish I could go back in time and have a chat with the Plumtree native and find out exactly what and who inspired that song. For, I am swept away by how brave the song sounds.
Laying his heart out and saying it like it is. There is rare raw honesty there that warms my heart. John Chibadura many may believe should never find his way into any romantic songs list ever. Remember however that he had that song ‘…mukadzi In search of Zim’s greatest love song Contact The Pro Team Pro Fitness Health Club Borrowdale Tel Work: 08677102350 Email: borrowdale@pro-fitness.co.zw Monday – Friday 05:00 – 21:00 Opening Hours Saturday – Sunday 06:00 – 18:00 Public Holidays 06:00 – 12:00 “If it doesn’t challenge you- it doesn’t change you” Personal Training | Classes | Team Building wangu uri chido chemoyo…uri dhiya wangu’ I feel he represents those that don’t know how to say it, but when they do ever so slightly – the effect makes the whole world stop.
Thomas Mapfumo’s Madhebhura, that’s as much romance as you will get from the living legend. Can we agree though that after singing that what more needed to be said – nothing! Mozoti madhara haana romance! Zexie Manatsa and The Green Arrows expressed in the fewest words the importance of a companion in the song Chivaraidze. Marshal Munhumumwe and The Four Brothers with Rudo Chete have got to be somewhere in the top five. This song puts a smile on my face because I remember the video’s swimming pool scene (high five Marshie).
Now can we talk about Admire Kasenga and Ngosimbi Crew and that track Pamuchato waTobias… yes ! Did I almost forget James Chimombe’s Cecillia? No beating about the bush in this one ‘Cecillia… inini ndinokuda’, straight shooters are always refreshing.
Sungura music has always had a special place in my heart and I could never come up with a list of Zimbabwes greatest love songs without recognising Devera Ngwena Jazz Band’s Wangu P.
A song about a certain lady called P who is promised that all her sorrows and troubles shall be washed away by his love. (This is an aaaaahhh moment) they also gave us that great classic Solo naMutsai and it really isn’t a Zimbabwean wedding if this record isn’t belting from the speakers to allow for some animated, aggressive Borrowdale dance moves. Sungura takes me through to Leonard Dembo’s Chitekete. Leonard Dembo was quite a romantic soul. Not only did he give us Chitekete but he always left us Sarura Wako, Gire just to mention a few. Which leads us to Simon Chimbetu and for me as far as he is concerned Magobo takes the cup though at times I find myself caught in between Magobo and Mudzimai wangu.
Love that sacrifices all working day and night to make love be. Then Alec Macheso happened! That man certainly knows how to string words together. Petunia and Tafadzwa Nyarara speak love to me and I know many would choose to differ, whether you ignore the back story or not- that is a great romantic song.
While there was so much movement in what is the most popular genre in Zimbabwe modern sounds have also been putting words and sound to emotions. Calvin and Muzi’s Tombofara a celebration of love and the blessing of a wedding.
Somerai and that simple song whose video rocked our screens way back – Mudiwa wangu , in the same era is the track Mamoyo by Chibwana. Who could forget Isaac Chirwa’s Uthando Kuwe, the few times back then when a mix of English and the vernacular was seamless. Then Fortune Mparutsa gave us Kure Kwaunoenda with a video that foretold a situation that became the norm for most couples a few decades later.
It’s true, Pamuhacha is a beautiful song. Sometimes the seemingly simplest songs have the greatest impact. For me however Ndiripano has always had a special place in my heart, for I have the greatest respect for anyone who will set everything aside, take a chance and just say ‘see me…I am here for no one else but you’. I choose you.
For that song alone I applaud Mateo, Willom Tight and friends. Standing at par is Dr Oliver Mtukudzi’s Svovi Yangu. The honesty and vulnerability in that song is romantic and a turn on… yes it is! Tanga WekwaSando return to music put township jazz back on top with a bang and to Zimbabwe’s greatest love songs he gave us Nyenyedzi. He’s latest single with ExQ is contender too Bvuma, beautiful song!
The ‘Urban’ sound also stepped up and channelled out some great tracks Audius Mtawarira’s If Only you Knew, which Arthur Evans picked as his number one because “I just love Audius’s voice” he said. Roy and Royce’s Handirege, is on Zezuru rock Star’s top ten. Sani Makhalima’s Kana Nada is requested on radio frequently as a dedication to loved ones. Local film industry guru Joe Njagu was in love at the time Alexio and Tererai’s Tinodanana was released and so the song sits at number one for him. Nox’s Maria is a good one and it could never be an accurate list without Plaxedes’s Tisaparadzane. Diana Samkange’s Kumagumo is plea that most of us hold onto as we go through relationship challenges and I have the utmost respect for the way that song was composed.
It’s a gem! Betty Makaya and Jamaal’s Kurwizi, there was a time when that song was the most played and requested song. She also probably made quite a buck at weddings. Trevor Dongo is just amazing when it comes to love songs, but That’s How I Feel stands out more to me but I’m sure he has five or six that could easily end up in our greatest love songs list.
Over time some great songs have been composed these past ten years… a new generation has risen and they have taken love songs to the next level. Shayne’s Rova mota. Jonah’s Pandichakuona, which Tamy picked as her greatest local love song.
Her reasons being “I first listened to that song some two years ago and the lyrical content was sooo simple yet so sweet and the use of Vernacular made it sooo special…….and I hoped to share it with someone someday”. Marble Madondo’s Moyo Wangu, Tinashe Makura and Chashe Zvekupenga, Pah Chihera and Prince
Musarurwa with Rinonzi Rudo. When it comes to Jah Prayzah, I pick Dzamutsana and Chengetedza. Dereck Mpofu also made Chengetedza number one for its reflection of the simplicity of love. A song that put Nyasha David on the map is Moyo Muti, this song has never really received the resounding applause it deserves but I know it will take just one day for the genius of that track to be fully appreciated. How can I leave out Adrian Tate’s Manyemwa, when they get it right…oh my do they get it right! News reader and producer Shepherd Makovere picks Willom Tights Ndiripano and Sam Dondo’s Nhapwa yerudo because “…it’s a beautiful song speaking of one’s helplessness in love…”.
Zimbabwean singer song writer Brian Nhira who is based in United States wrote a song inspired by his wife titled Would You Still Love Me – it’s such a beautiful song that asks all sorts of questions we think but seldom vocalise. May I just add… Soul Africa’s Take you and Killer T’s Ndamuda…though I am sure I have there are ten or so Zim Dancehall tracks that belong on this list.
I cannot possibly write them all, so I asked around. Living legend poet Albert Nyathi’s most romantic Zimbabwean song is Ncam by Calvin and Muz when I asked him why he said “Smooth, well composed and very good production quality” .
Which Takura picked together with Pamuhacha reason being “… they are both so soulful, the melody and words sound like it’s from the heart”. Alexio Kawara picked his own track call Umu he said “I wrote it being as real about my feelings as possible and I believe most relationships go the same process where one party or both have no idea that they will fall deep enough to want to spend a life time together.” Bulawayo rapper Cal-vin also picked his own song Banjalo Abantu in which he says “I poured my heart out on that song giving someone assurance dt I ain’t gon let your past ruin our future”. Dudu Manhenga Mparutsa’s track is Andy Brown’s Daisy and there’s a funny story why “I always imagined he sang it for me and he was saying Dudu are you feeling alright baby. And before he passed on we shared the stage and I made him sing it that way”.
Thank you to all the artists past and present for all the songs that have made it easier to say I love you, I miss you, I’m sorry and you will always be in my heart.
If you had to create your own Z i m b a b w e ’s greatest love songs list which songs would make it? A happy V a l e n t i n e s to you and r e m e m b e r love is a verb that CAN be demonstrated all year round.
