Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Gilbert Munetsi
6 January 2009
Harare — France-based rhumba maestro Kanda Bongo Man had just one guitar when he set out to perform at the Harare International Conference Centre on Wednesday evening, and his day was saved by a local musician who offered him his instruments on the 11th hour to avert what could have turned out to be an international disaster.
The Democratic Republic of Congo-born kwasa kwasa icon was invited to Harare as the main act in the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe 2008 beauty pageant which was organised by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and was broadcast live on national television courtesy of funding from Pinnacle Properties.
Bongo Man also had, as part of his entourage, a hired cameraman who was shooting the show for flighting back home.
The stocky musician touched down at the Harare International Airport on Sunday, December 28 2008, as part of a four-member advance party while the three dancing girls who make up the rest of his musical ensemble followed two days later after they had failed to catch the same Kenyan Airways flight booked for them.
Investigations by The Herald Entertainment late last week established that Bongo Man, of the Sai Liza fame, was in a dilemma behind the scenes just minutes away from performance time as he only had the lead guitar with no rhythm and bass guitars.
Tongai Moyo, who was part of the night's performances had to extend a brotherly hand to the stranded musician for him to embark on his hour-long performance.
"Yes, word came to me that brother Kanda only had a lead guitar and being someone in the same industry who understands the occupational hazards that go with music, it did not take me long to understand and quickly help him solve this predicament.
"There just wasn't any time to try and find out why, in the first place, everyone involved had to wait until such a critical moment to make a decision.
"The pageant had ended and the Masters of Ceremonies (Barney Mpariwa and Ellen Chiyindiko) had already made announcements that Kanda would be the next act.
"As he stood there backstage, someone hurried up to me to inform me that all was not well behind the scenes and I dashed to where the brother was to offer him my instruments," Moyo said.
Besides the lack of music instruments, there were fears that Kanda Bongo Man could have used some band members from local groups such as Bana Des As.
The last time Zimbabwe Tourism Authority brought a rhumba act to Bulawayo, it became clear that they had used members of a local outfit called Bana Des As and that the musician was in fact not the real Awilo.
However, it was later ascertained that Kanda Bongo Man had brought a five-member band, but without instruments.
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