Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Ruth Butaumocho And Tatenda Chipungudzanye
29 February 2008
Harare — The first of a series of benefit concerts, organised by Harare promoter Chris Musabayana, and Victor Chiraga of Pamuzinda Highway X-scape to raise $50 billion towards sungura musician Tongai Moyo's medical bills, will be held tonight.
Dhewa - who was diagnosed with cancer late last year - needs several thousands of rand to import medication from South Africa. The concerts begin with a show at Pamuzinda Highway X-scape tonight where Tongai himself will lead the pack of entertainers, this time not just for fun, but for a worthy cause.
In tow to support Moyo would be Dino "Jatropha" Mudondo and Assegai Crew, who are expected to keep the crowds on their feet for the whole night. The director of Pamuzinda, "Godfather" Chiraga, said the least that the joint could do was to support the musician in raising funds to meet his medical bills.
"Being partners in the entertainment industry, we decided to have this show to enable Tongai to pay his medical bills," said Chiraga. During the gigs, Dhewa will certainly not disappoint his legion of fans who had been waiting patiently for him to recover. He is expected to keep the crowd entertained with songs like Naye, Wakanaka and the timeless Murozvi Mukuru (Samanyemba).
The Kwekwe-based musician, who cut down his live shows to just two per month, packs his bags for Marondera tomorrow night where he shares the stage at Marondera Hotel with Rodrick Chomudhara, who played with the late John "Mr Chitungwiza" Chibadura's right-hand man.
From Marondera, Tongai heads back to Harare for a rare afternoon family show in the Harare Gardens. Moyo will alternate with Progress Chipfumo for the first time in a show that is set to create a lot of excitement among his fans. Assegai Crew of the Kanyama Karipi fame will support Tongai and Progress, who cut his music teeth as lead vocalist for the now disbanded Hohodza Hot Band.
While it is a benefit concert, there will also be multi-million-dollar questions from fans such as -- who will steal the show?
Will Tongai perform to his usual standard that often sees fans go crazy imitating the popular "Sele" dance?
And will the new Tongai/Progress combination bear fruit?
Time will tell!
"Tongai is one big musician in the country and it is also our duty as stakeholders in the music industry to assist him in acquiring his medication and meeting doctor's bills," said Musabayana of Ghetto Fabulous. Tongai welcomed the gesture by fellow musicians and promoters in helping him on the recovery path "I am supposed to complete my medication in May and that will cost around $50 billion while most of the medication is imported from South Africa.
"This gesture by musicians and promoter puts me a step ahead and it is really encouraging in our music industry. "I thank people like Alick Macheso and my manager who thought of the idea of benefit concerts. This will go a long way in assisting me," said Tongai.
The Nama award winner was, however, quick to dispel talk that he had fallen on hard times. "I have received a lot of calls and mail on my fan club with people asking whether I had become so broke we had lined up benefit concerts, but that is not the case. The concerts are organised by well-wishers," Tongai explained.
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