Harare — The following song was composed by Sam (Samuel) Matambo in 1958 and recorded in 1961. It withstood the test of time up to 1980.

When Sam Matambo and the City Quads wrote and recorded the song, little did he know that he would one-day witness that day, April 18, 1980.

He celebrated when that day finally came, unfortunately this year, he was not able to make it, two weeks before the 30th anniversary celebrations. Two weeks ago Sam Matambo succumbed to kidney failure and he passed on.

He contributed immensely to the music industry and the media in this country.

He was the first township musician that I interviewed. Since 1984, I had started inquiring about our early popular music from my parents.

My father directed me to Sam Matambo. When I got to his home in Mbare, he asked: "You are very young. Why are you interested in our music? No one remembers it any longer."

I told him I wanted to collect the music, photos and stories of that time. He told me he could tell me the stories but he did not have any of the music and photos including his own.

He told me that the album that they had recorded in 1961 was confiscated because of the title track Lizofika nini Ilanga, (When will the day of freedom come), this was the first long-playing album in the country.

The interview that I thought was going to be on "music" turned out to be a social history. That day I realised that music is the umbrella of the society. Sam Matambo told me about how township culture evolved, and how township culture, which was made up of different tribes and nationalities, was created and in turn created township music.

He gave me names of some of the first musicians that I interviewed. It was after my meeting with him that all the doors seemed to open.

When I left his home I did not have any music and photos but these wonderful stories.

I went on a mission to look for the LP, Lizofika nini Ilanga and I got it from the veteran broadcaster the late Godwin Mbofana who dubbed it for me. I did a copy and left it for Sam Matambo. When I phoned the next day, I spoke to mama (his wife) and she said "mwanangu nezuro kwakaitika mariro, baba vako vakachema pavakanzwa dzimbo dzavo dzavakanga vagara vasina kunzwa kwemakore" (My daughter, your father literally sobbed as he reminisced (went down memory lane) after listening to the music that he had not heard for a long time). I was touched.

Since that interview with Sam Matambo, I have interviewed more than 100 musicians.

With the information that I collected, I went on to do radio programmes, film documentaries and the most popular one was Zimbabwe Township Music. I have given lectures locally and abroad and I have written a book on Zimbabwe Township Music among other productions.

When I heard that Sam Matambo had passed on, I went back in time and I broke down.

Sam Matambo has left a legacy not only in music but also as one of the finest actors, broadcasters and teachers.

He was born in 1925. His father, Rev Jonas Matambo from South Africa, had settled in Msengezi. Sam Matambo went to school at Marshal Hartley, Tegwane, then to Waddilove where he trained as a teacher. He started teaching in 1941, at Msengezi and then at Marshall Hartley in 1945. He came to Harare (Salisbury) and taught in Highfield from 1945-1947 then he left teaching and went into what he called "Life".

"Teaching was a very respectable job but the salary was low, that is why I left. We were paid 2 pounds and 25 pence per month, but then at least it was better when we advanced our education. The money was increased but at the same time, there were other job opportunities; clerks and court interpreters were getting a lot of money, that is why I decided to leave teaching."

In 1948, he left teaching and became a clerk at the Administration Offices at the Market Square were he used to process town passes. He then went to work in industry and while he was promoting a South African Band, he met one Mr Gilbert who was the head of the Federal Broadcasting Corporation. Mr Gilbert decided to give him a job as a broadcaster.

When the Federation was broken in 1963, he left broadcasting and joined an oil company. He was sent to Bulawayo, as a sales person, he then went into public relations.

In 1972, he left to join broadcasting again in the commercial sector for radio and television. He also did freelance programmes for radio and television, advertisements and jingles.

Besides broadcasting and promoting music, Sam Matambo had been involved in music from the 1940's to the 1960's. He joined the De Black Evening Follies in the late 40's to the early 50's. He was treasurer and secretary of the group.

He left the De Black Evening Follies in 1953 to join the City Quads, which was formed by Sonny Sondo. Sonny and Sam had been together in The Follies. "When Sonny Sondo approached me I told him that I could help them. I just wanted to practise with them but I didn't want to go on stage, but they persuaded me until I went on stage. There was also Titus Dan (Mukosanjera) and Steve Mtunyani."

Although the City Quads had full-time jobs, they made it a point to rehearse daily after work, often up to 10pm. They would commute back to their homes after rehearsals, often on foot, as there were hardly any buses after 10pm. It was straining especially for Mtunyani, who had to travel back into town where he was temporarily residing.

The "Boys" became a prolific singing group within a short period of their staging history, particularly at Mai Musodzi Hall, which always got filled to capacity. Their music was initially jazz copyrights, mixed with Negro spirituals and Mills Brother's ballads.

Starting with simple songs, they eventually mastered complex rhythms, which they readily copied from published sheet music or gramophone records.

As their music evolved to maturity, the City Quads fused traditional lyrics with American jazz forms and produced their own music; township jazz music.

The Quads were the first musical group to produce a Long Playing Record (LP) in the country, entitled: "Music in the African Township" in 1961. The LP, which had 12 songs, was engineered by Klaus Kruger, a representative of Polydor Recording Company (Germany) in the then Southern Rhodesia.

The songs were recorded at different locations, and were eventually mixed in Germany. The group never received royalties for the record, despite a signed contract with Polydor. The LP was subsequently banned because of a track: "Lizofika Nini Ilanga?" -- (When Will The Day of Freedom Come?)

Sam Matambo, whilst working for the FBC, was taken to task by the authorities each time he played the controversial tune. Besides the song Lizofika nini Ilanga Sam Matambo arranged Ndebele/Zulu traditional songs mixed with jazz, for example: "Nyathelu Ugqihile", "Lamlela" and "Dalala Khece" which were wedding songs.

A popular Chewa mourning song: "Ndafunafuna", was rearranged for fast tempo by Sonny Sondo, after which the City Quads made it into a big stage hit. The tune was later recorded by a series of artists, which include Molly Banda, Virgina Sillah -Jangano (with Harare Mambos) and Prudence Katomeni- Mbofana (with Jazz Invitation). In fact, Sonny was fluent in spoken Chewa, Ndebele, Shona and English. His other popular number was "Chipo mwana wababa".

Stephen Mtunyani composed, "Lindi" (Urimwana Wakanakisisa) (Lindi You Are a Beauty), a love song which had a high audience appeal.

The backing group for the City Quads included Andrew Chakanyuka (guitar), the late Simangaliso Tutani (bass), Athur Xahe and Duncan Achulu. The police band also backed the group on particular occasions.

The City Quads never made much money from singing, which was the order of the day. Music was then a part-time hobby, essentially meant to provide entertainment to the community. Entertainment groups were registered under the Social Welfare Department, as non-profit making entities.

Any net profit after expending on overheads was channelled to charity. Consequently, the City Quads and several other performing groups assisted a number of charities.

The "Boys" paid their backing artists well compared to other groups of the time, despite the fact that concert entrance fees were also minimal.

In Bulawayo, the Quads staged concerts to fundraise for The Jairos Jiri Centre. They travelled as far as Kariba to sing for the dam builders, as a form of moral support. The Women's Volunteer Service, led by activist Muriel Rosin, then the only female member of the Federal Government Parliament, sponsored a particular show.

The Quad singers also fundraised for a child nursery: The Sister Barbara, a well-organised crèche in Mbare Township, which also trains nursery teachers; and for a fund to assist flood victims in Hungary.

The latter show was held at the Palace Theatre during the Queen's Command Performance, where the City Quads were the only black group.

A complementary group was the coloured Arcadia Rhythm Lads, which often held combined shows with The Quads at Mbare's Mai Musodzi Hall. Other beneficiaries of The Quads concerts were the Athenium Hall and funds for the construction of Nyatsime College. The legendary American jazz singer, Louis Armstrong had also participated in fundraising for the college, which was a brainchild of the late Prof Stanlake Samkange. The "Boys" were among other musical groups that welcomed Louis Armstrong on his historic visit to Zimbabwe.

Sam Matambo was also secretary of the Jazz Appreciation Club. The club was active in popularising jazz, and in its membership recruitment, deliberations of the club included topics covering familiarisation with musical instruments, stage performance and vocal mastery.

Aside of music, Sam Matambo and the City Quads were active members of The Runyararo Drama Group, led by Mornica Marsden in the fifties.

Matambo was involved in the drama Macbeth produced by Adrian Stanley then director of Reps Theatre. Some of the actors involved in the drama were Ruth Mpisaunga and Albert Chaza.

Matambo's acting career persisted for long; he was featured in Steve Biko and Neria as the magistrate who presided over the inheritance battle between Neria and her brother-in-law, including the television soap drama; "Reflections".

The "Boys" had a number of women singers from time to time, and held joint concerts with female groups, such as the Gay Gaeties, led by Victoria Chingate. Some female musicians who sang with The Quads, included Valerie Govenda, Faith Dauti and Molly Banda.

The group unfortunately disbanded in the early 60's, due to the mounting political unrest and volatile tension prevailing in the country. Their leader Sonny Sondo died tragically in Zambia.

He was stoned to death by a drunken mob from a nearby beerhall that mistakenly thought he had run over a child as he drove home. Apparently, the child was only slightly injured, and was alive after all. Thus, spelt the death of a great singer and actor in Central/Southern Africa.

Sonny's colleagues travelled to Zambia and brought his body home, whereupon he was solemnly buried at the Harare Beatrice Cottages Cemetery.

Sonny Sondo never lived to witness the country's independence, which the "Boys" yearned for in their song: "Lizofika Nini Ilanga?"

Sam Matambo was the last surviving member of the City Quads. He saw it all in the entertainment industry.

He is survived by three of his 10 children Milton, Olga and Hilda; he was laid to rest at his farm in Msengezi on April 11, 2010.

He played a pivotal role in the media, theatre and the formation of popular music in this country. Enkosi Tata. Ulale noxolo. Ulale nokuthula. (Thank you our father. Rest in peace).

Joyce Jenje Makwenda is the author/producer of Zimbabwe Township Music Book and Film Documentary.