In 2001, a meeting was held at a popular eatery in City of Harare. basically there were two main groups of musicians , InterMusica and Labien musica who had decided to merge and form a formidable RHUMBA outfit. Comprising of all ZIMBABWEANS, the outfit intended to create a platform for the local guys to showcase their artistic talents in the rhumba Genre as it was felt at that time that the foreign rhumba groups in the country were not too keen in affording the locals a chance to join them as meaningful members of their groups. Chairing the meeting was Sam Semalo Ndingindi Chamangwana, and prominent attendees included, Forward Nyachowe(Sefo), Jnr Doc Jaison Midzi, Cuthbert Kasirori(Veve), Tendai Muronzi( TBass), Reginald Boora(Zidane), Cosmas Rabvunda(Kalunji), Geginald Mbizvo (now late), Sydney Machengete( now late), Kuda and Gift undertaker. At that time ,Sefo who was playing rithym guitar with Shaka Zulus Diamond Musica of the Amaule fame was the most prominent artist, followed by the likes of Veve and Reggie Mbizvo who were part timers at Lubumbashi Stars. Other guys were still finding their feet in the rhumba trade though TBass Kaboko had experinced recording other genres as both a drummer and upstart bassist. Nyachowe had already done recordings of his own and had some outstanding hours at Gramma, that on its own an outstanding feat at the time. Naturally Sefo was chosen to be Band Manager (Welfare), Dr Midzi, communications...was thought to be well connected and also fluent in foreign languages including Lingala. Veve was chosen lead singer, having held a similar role in the defunct Labien Musica. Sam Semalo was tasked to take the oufit forward through promoting and managing the band as by then he was already operating Brakeview Transport P/L (B.V) which also had a passenger transport side trading as Chamangwana Buses. aGeorge Ishmael manager of the bus operations was seconded as liason between the aspiring outfit and Sam Semalo who had other professional commitments. Thus started INTERMUSICA G.N.C( group of natural composers) The G.N.C was to distinguish between Sefos old out fit and the new group. InterMusica was adopted because it was already recognised in the market as Sefo had a few audio and visual recordings that had been flighted on the local media. BRAKEVIEW Transport ( B.V t/a Chamangwana buses) began financing operations of InterMusica GNC. Rehearsals were sponsored and so was transportation as a 16 seater kombi was availed to the band for ease of travel to and from the shows. This band played mainly old school rumba, the marios, sinamakosas etc . To create own identity and branding the group was encuraged by the promoter to do own compositions and recordings and utilise the time that Sefo had already booked at Gramma. The group became popular in the environs of Chitungwiza( Mubaiwa kuDema, kwaZiko and kuD kwaMdhara Durban (Gute). Chitungwiza became the launching pad as most members resided in the surburb and later the band slowly started staging shows in some joints in Harare. Eventually touring started, and the band was to leave a lasting impression at places such as Shamwari in Kwekwe and Red Lion and Redcliff. When the band was peaking internal squabbles along former lines of origin cropped up. Failure by SEFO to avail the group a slot to record one of the compositions proving popular Mwana waMambo Muranda Kumwe brought a premature demise of the group. Members went on to join other groups, the likes of the late Mariano and crew joining Utaka taka, Veve joining Diamond, others Madowa dowa and College Musica which groups had splintered from the original Diamond Musica. NEXT INSTALLMENT; BIRTH OF B.V LABIEN MUSICA CHAMANGWANA-2002
Posted on: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 08:02:43 +0000
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