Published by the government of Zimbabwe
19 September 2007
Harare — IT'S been seven years now after the Bhundu Boys folded up. With its surviving members scattered, only one man - Rise Kagona - is still trying to rekindle the fire that saw the group which is still regarded as one of Zimbabwe's greatest ever group to conquer Europe in the 80s.
Kagona led the Bhundu Boys that had the late Biggie Tembo, David Mankaba, Shepherd Munyama and others which disbanded in 2000 after struggling to live up to its standards. Some of those who came in as replacements notably Washington Kavhai is serving a jail term for aggravated assault in the United Kingdom while Kuda Matimba and Kenny Chitsvatsva who live in London have put together an outfit they call Harare.
But the best Kagona can do today is play at festivals and downtown club joints in Edinburgh and some parts of the United Kingdom while enjoying his stay in Scotland close to Edinburgh in a village known as Kirkliston. "I'm happy that I live a natural life in Scotland and I appreciate everything, because in Zimbabwe I had nothing. I live a simple life, and I like it," he said. Of course, his musical dream is slowly coming alive through his teaming up with their former English promoter, Champion Doug Veitch, the man who brought them to England. Their outfit, Culture Clash has a 10-track album titled Taneta Nekutambura that was released in May this year. Veitch is a Scottish musician and songwriter who made fame with King of Caledonian Swing and holds he the record for having most (six) consecutive NME singles of the week.
His music was a groundbreaking poly-cultural mix that used elements from dub, reggae, country music and Scottish folk music. In 1985, he co-founded the label DiscAfrique with colleague Owen Elias that was one of the first World Music labels and released most of The Bhundu Boys' music among them Shabini and Tsvimbo Dzemoto. It was also the same label that released the Four Brothers' albums overseas. In 1989, he released an album of Scottish dance music with his wife under the Moniker Martin, Doug and Sara before drifting out of music due to personal issues and took a PhD in woodland management.
The two have been holding shows not only in the United Kingdom but early this year they shared the stage with a group known as The Ukrainians. Last year, the pair were a major hit at several UK festivals and also played with funky a bassist known as John Reynolds. Last month Kagona was a special guest for the Senegalese afro-beat and jazz artistes Samba Sene and Diwan for a show at the Edinburgh's Jazz Bar during the Edinburgh Festival. Although Kagona is now a small musician, he was a favourite of Madonna, Elvis Costello, Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler. But he recalls the times he and his friends rose to fame. "The rich lifestyle of the 1980s is a very long time ago. It seems like another lifetime," he said some years ago. While admitting that music is still in his blood, Kagona is content as a volunteer in the Corstorphine branch of Cancer Research UK.
He, however, does not say what his job is. "My work don't know what I've done. I don't go around telling people. That's just not me, or who I am. "I just feel the people here are happy to live alongside others. Scotland deals with multi-cultures, they are happy to live next to other cultures and I feel accepted here, more so than I have elsewhere.
"I'm comfortable here, and I feel at home. It's peaceful and quiet, and as long as Scottish people continue sharing cultures then I'll be here."
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