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Zimbabwe: Progress Chipfumo Shows Maturity
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
26 March 2008
Posted to the web 26 March 2008
Harare
PROGRESS CHIPFUMO who cut his musical teeth in the now defunct Hohodza Hot Band has risen steadily to a force to reckon in the music arena at a time when other artistes were finding the going tough.
Of late, Chipfumo has been thrilling revellers in nightspots countrywide where hordes of pleasure seeking people have been trailing him like a shadow. The dreadlocked singer, critics say, has matured artistically and professionally.
Like a mature artiste he is today, Chipfumo has been returning the favour with spirited performances wherever he performs.
Like a battle-hardened soldier in music, Chipfumo has also managed not only to build but also sustain his own band -- The Sounds of Motherland -- after Hohodza Hot Band disbanded.
The youthful lead guitarist has also managed to expand his fan base over a short period of time.
For those not in the know, Chipfumo is one for the few artistes who hold at least five shows in a week and still manages to deliver.
He is also one of the few artistes with a committed youthful team which if well looked after, can easily make it to the top.
Chipfumo has been sharing the stage with sungura maestro Alick Macheso where he has also proved his worth. With his colleagues taking him for a supporting act, Chipfumo has on many occasions managed to live to his billing.
He shone recently when he shared the stage with Macheso and Sulumani Chimbetu at Pamuzinda Highway X-scape and Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex respectively.
Even the choice of songs he played on that particular night left many clamouring for more.
He belted out such songs as Mangerengere, Mai Vevana and Tsiurika among others.
The weekend shows were also special for Macheso as the singer was marking his group's 10th anniversary.
It was the Chitungwiza affair in particular where Chipfumo left the crowds asking for more.
Being in Macheso's backyard, where some top artistes normally sneeze, he managed to rise to the occasion.
Being a first show for Macheso after his Australian show in his backyard, it was difficult for Chipfumo to entertain the usually partisan crowd to accept him.
Being one of those nights where Macheso delayed to appear on stage, Chipfumo managed to heal the impatient crowd.
Credit should also go to his dancing queens and of course the entire Sounds of Motherland team for believing in themselves on a night that was so tense.
After Chipfumo had raised the crowd, Macheso simply put the icing on the cake.
Precisely, Macheso played like a possessed man as Chipfumo had set the pace.
To a stranger, it appeared as if it was a battle of the bands while there was no contest.
If all musicians would give such polished performances wherever they play, fans would trail them wherever they go.
Even Macheso acknowledged that the show was one of his best outings in recent years especially at the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex, his second home.
"It was a night to remember. I am happy for Progress, his boys for that act.
"As for us, it was a memorable occasion as we marked our anniversary in style and we hope to hold similar shows countrywide as we reflect on the path that we travelled since the band was formed," he said.
Macheso said similar shows would be held in some towns as they wish to celebrate their success with their fans.
In another interview, Chipfumo was ecstatic.
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"It's a promising affair and I am learning a lot from these shows with Macheso. We also wish to keep on working hard as a band," he said.
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| Copyright © 2008 The Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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