Story by Patience Nyagato
TODAY marks 18 years after the death of liberation hero and Dendera King Simon Chimbetu and his legacy lives on.
The day which befittingly coincided with the Heroes Day commemorations this year saw fans, comrades and family members visiting his grave to relive memories of his great musical exploits.
To date, his discography including the song ‘Pane Asipo’ and many others that he sang with his band Orchestra Dendera Kings form part of most radio stations’ playlists, especially during the Heroes Day commemorations, a clear testimony that Chopper’s legacy lives on.
His son Sulumani, who was in Chinhoyi paying his respects to the liberation hero who is buried at the Chinhoyi Provincial Heroes Acre, said he will strive to preserve his father’s legacy.
A gallant son of the soil with a music career spanning over three decades, Chimbetu is believed to have been inspired to name his band after his stint at Dendera Assembly Point in Mudzi where he entertained freedom fighters during the ceasefire period.
Chimbetu who is considered the father of the Dendera music genre recorded his first album in 1983 under Marxist Brothers, a band he formed together with his brother Naison.
They recorded more than seven albums together, including ‘Mwana Wedangwe’, ‘Dendera Resango’ and ‘Kuipa Chete’ among others before he went solo in the 1990s.
He later formed his band Orchestra Dendera Kings where he produced albums such as ‘Nguva Yakaoma’, ‘Ndouraiwa’, ‘Karikoga’, ‘2000 Blend’ and ‘Takabatana’.
The legacy of Simon Chimbetu lives on, with his son Sulumani having taken over his band and embraced the Dendera genre.
