For the past few months I had received many dubious calls purporting Prince Tendai was no more.
My point of confirmation in such cases – by virtue of our personal relationship – was always Nyamungoma.
So, on Wednesday when he announced on the other end of the line that Prince Tendai (he called him Mr Man) was no more, all the hope that one day our dear musician and promoter would return from China a strong man immediately evaporated.
I reflected on the years that I had known Prince Tendai and the various levels at which we had related.
We had many good times together since 2003 but what touched me most were our last interactions in 2010 and 2011.Before his condition got the better of him, Prince Tendai drove to my workplace with an idea of chronicling the best achievements of his life (in an article published in this paper on October 10 2010).
I took is as compensatory behavior from someone who was nursing great disappointment. Little did I know that I was actually compiling his obituary. As his condition deteriorated, he tried to keep it a secret as he fought to pay a huge debt emanating from the Akon-Sean Paul gig. He finally opened up to me on his condition a few weeks before he left for China in April.
One thing was certain – Prince Tendai had very little hope for survival.
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He said someone abroad had sent him a book about the motor neuron disease and he had learnt that victims of the disease hardly survived.His language was that of a person face to face with death. I gave him a few words of encouragement but his response was:“Young man, you want to strengthen me but I am dying.”
I was touched as I saw him swing in his chair like a healthy person.
It was only when he began moving his arms and talking that one would notice that all was not well with him. That was the last time I saw him and that image of Prince Tendai “comfortably” sitting in his chair in his office at Megawatt Building on that evening is still vivid in my memory.
He was generous, talented, humble, caring, hard working, enterprising, friendly and resilient.
THE REAL DEAL CONCERT
The last time we were in constant touch was during the run up to the Real Deal Concert that would bring Akon and Sean Paul to perform in Zimbabwe on September 4 2010.
Through his Zimswag Promotions, he made history by bringing the two high profile artists into the country and the show will remain one of the best things to happen in the country over many years.
We had periodic meetings as he updated me on the programme. He initially intended to bring Akon in June 2010 as he wanted to take advantage of the musician’s performance in neighbouring South Africa at the beginning of World Cup 2010.
That deal failed to materialise but the resilient Prince made sure Akon would perform in Zimbabwe and had to settle for a new deal and date.It was a historic event. But one man was disappointed – Prince Tendai made mega losses because of slack security.
Since that loss, things turned upside-down for him. His subsequent involvement in a car accident and sickness were other misfortunes as things began to fall apart.
