The legacy that the late sungura star Tongai Moyo left is teetering on the verge of collapse.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO/MOSES MUGUGUNYEKI
His son and heir apparent Peter might try to put a brave face, but the reality is that he is battling to keep his father’s band Utakataka Express alive as internal squabbles continue to tear the group apart.
Peter, affectionately known as Young Igwe, managed to drive the group out of unfamiliar territory following the death of his father in 2011 with the support of promoters and musicians.
However, sources told The Standard Style that all is not rosy at the Kwekwe-based outfit, with reports that some key members are contemplating leaving the group.
“The band is on the verge of collapse with some key members having already started looking for options,” said the source. “Some members are already supplementing their earnings by performing with other musicians.”
Last week, the trio of bass guitarist Spencer Khumulani, rhythm guitarist Evidence Tarabuku and chanter Gift “Shiga Shiga” Katulika performed at Sakubva Stadium as part of Mutare-based sungura artist Brian Samaita’s Murondatsimba Express.
However, Khumulani said there was nothing wrong with joining hands with Samaita whom he regarded as a brother. He said their “boss” gave them the greenlight to perform with Murondatsimba Express.
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“Samaita is a brother and he invited me so that I assist him at the show. We have in the past recorded some songs together and even when Tongai was still alive, he would allow me to perform with Samaita,” he said.
Khumulani said all was well in the Utakataka Express.
“There are no problems at the band. It’s only those small things that groups encounter, especially when the economy is not also performing well,” he said.
Although former guitarists Willard “Willo” Loti led Utakataka Express members — Tarabuka, Savious Karikodzi, Mathew Perego, drummers Guyson Sixpense and Prince Kapatsa — to record a six-track album titled Zvine Musoro, under The Bullets Band, Peter said they did that with his blessings.
As the boss, Peter has been found wanting when it comes to administration as band members have accused him on focussing on upgrading his cars while neglecting them. They said the musician was paying them weekly allowances of $5.
When contacted for comment, Peter said things have not been good in his camp, but said everything had since been resolved, adding that the fights have strengthened him as the leader of the band.
“I am determined to keep intact my late father’s legacy. I take constructive criticism, but people spread rumours to destabilise the band. On the issue of Spencer, Jahwi and Willo, they used to record even with other musicians like Somandla Ndebele and Samaita, even mudhara aripo [when my father was alive]. I think there is nothing wrong with that as long as they are not giving them our stuff,” he said.
In a bid to clean the mess within his band, Peter last week suspended one of his band managers, Pliers Puraeni, accusing him of misusing the band’s funds.
Puraeni, however, made sensational claims that he was being sabotaged by Shiga Shiga and Khumulani.
Sources said Peter’s late father left big shoes for him to fill.
“Tongai was a brand. This young man cannot fit in the shoes that his father left. He has on many occasions walked off the stage in the middle of shows without explanation, which his father did not do,” the source said.
Last month, Young Igwe cut his set short during the Leonard Zhakata album launch at the Harare International Conference Centre.
Peter has in the past lost key members Shiga Shiga and Kumbulani to Energy Mutodi’s Mutodi Express in 2012.
