It’s Another Tuku, Cheso, Tryson Clash

From the Zimbabwe Herald
by Richmore Tera, 2nd March 2012

THE bar keeps rising for dendera musician Tryson Chimbetu who will curtain-raise for two of the country’s music giants, Oliver Mtukudzi and Alick Macheso at the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex tonight.

Tryson who fronts the Marxist Brothers, the group that was founded by his late father Naison — will be out to prove that he deserves the honour to perform alongside Tuku and Macheso.

What makes the show interesting is that Tryson will bring in a novel dendera dimension to Tuku’s katekwe and Macheso’s sungura to come up with a “melting pot” of music genres.

The young artiste is not just basking in the glory of his current album, “Bvamrod”, but also on a colourful patch of alternating the stage with the country’s best.

Those who have been following Macheso’s shows will testify how Tryson has matured with each outing and the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex will sure endear him more with his fans.

Naison must be smiling in his grave after Tryson made a steady rise under the watchful eye of Macheso.

The show in Chitungwiza has generated a lot of interest in the satellite town.

Humble as he is, Tryson has been “elbowing” his way up the music ladder and sharing the stage with Macheso and Tuku will further consolidate his status as one of the country’s musicians to seriously contend with.

On the other hand, the two artistes that Tryson will be sharing the stage with are music legends in their own right, having defined the Zimbabwean music landscape into what it is today.

Macheso has become the epitome of sungura music with a string of hit albums to his name.

So popular has Macheso’s music that other artistes sought to have a share of his glory and recorded albums imitating the hitmaker’s original beat.

As result he had to record song denouncing the so-called “vanamurondatsimba” (copycats).

Tuku is also another Zimbabwean music giant, who like a colossus, has traversed not only the local but also the African and worldwide music landscape.

He has travelled the breadth and width of the globe, and has graced several international shows that featured other artistes from Africa.

With almost 60 albums to his name, Tuku has become an icon and legend, whose popularity has earned him accolades from the time he joined Wagon Wheels in 1977.

He has been nominated for the prestigious Kora Awards and more recently he was appointed the Unicef Goodwill Ambassador, for his role in advocating for children’s rights through his music.

Mtukudzi has been named as one of the 40 most influential celebrities on the Africa continent by international magazine Forbes.

The magazine classifies itself as the “leading source for reliable business news and financial information”.

Before the year runs out, the Zimbabwean legend is expected to collaborate with American singer Alicia Keys on an album that will sensitise African mothers on the importance of HIV and Aids programmes.