Zimbabwe Standard (Harare)
Godwin Muzari
31 October 2009
THEY boast what could be considered the best music genealogy in the land but members of the Chimbetu family are living in perpetual fear of an alleged evil spirit wreaking havoc in the clan.
The family that has brought forth a line of talented musicians in the form of Simon, Naison, Briam, Allan, Sulumani and Tryson has reportedly been on the receiving end of the malignant spirit for some years.
Some of the family members last week confirmed that they were living in fear as mysterious happenings, threats and nightmares trail them day and night.
A source close to the family says the Chimbetus hold family indabas regularly to map strategies to counter "the horror".
Allan, the eldest surviving family member, confirmed that the family has been embroiled in a vicious fight with an evil spirit that has tormented most of the members.
Sulumani said that the song Horror from his latest album Reverse Deal, in which he talks of having serious nightmares, was a reflection of personal experiences.
Tryson said he was shaken by an accident involving his band members that destroyed his instruments and forced him to abort shows earlier this year.
Most of the members have diverted from their fathers' traditional religion to seek refuge in other religions that are believed to offer better solutions to their plight.
Allan has turned to an apostolic sect; Sulumani now attends Christ Embassy Ministries while Tryson has joined a Pentecostal church.
Allan gave an account of the family ordeal.
"It started with the late mukoma Simon complaining about strange things happening in his life. He had bad dreams and hallucinations and was afraid of travelling.
"He was involved in a number of accidents during the last days of his life and the strange thing is that all the accidents involved donkeys."
True to Allan's word, Simon confessed the strange happenings in his life to this writer in 2004 when he was explaining the song Kikiri Kikiri on his last album Ten Million Pounds Reward.
The song is the musician's plea to evil spirits to stop following him. Simon said the song was a true and sincere message to people who were casting spirits upon him and making his life miserable.
Less than a year after the release of the album, Simon died and Allan says the death was "mysterious".
It is believed in the family that the bad spirit was responsible for the death of Simon and other three elders within a few years.
"Our father died a few days after complaining about a strange object that was choking him and Simon also complained of a sore throat and passed away barely a month after father's death," Allan explained.
Although the family members believe Naison's death was natural since he had been ill for a long time, they raised questions about Briam's death. Briam complained of swollen and painful legs.
Allan admitted that these strange happenings had seen him leaving his fathers' religion to become an apostolic sect member.
"At my church we have what are known as angels of war that have the power to forecast any problems in one's life and help that individual fight the problems," he said.
"I have been told a lot of things about this evil spirit and I have waged serious wars against it victoriously. I was actually the next in line after Briam's death but I am still strong. I will only die by the will of God."
Although Sulumani could not reveal much about the "horror" that he sang about, the musician said he has visions of people visiting him at night.
"You can see faces of people you know coming to haunt you at night. Most of the time I just get paralysed. I fail to move or even shout. It is a harrowing experience but I believe it happens to many other people."
Sulumani has moved from one Pentecostal church to another but is now settled at the one whose leader is believed to be blessed with immense powers to cast away evil spirits and diseases.
In the same vein Tryson -- Naison's oldest son -- believes that God will protect him regardless of the prying spirit.
"I will not be affected anymore. My God will protect me through whatever situation," Tryson said.
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