Let's clear the air right from the start! To call
Devera Ngwena a jazz band is a misnomer. The band has never played jazz and
jazz fans may be misled by the name into believing that this group plays their
kind of music genre. Instead, they should be prepared to listen to rhumba
music.
In the late 1970s a group based at a mining compound situated in the
south-eastern parts of Zimbabwe emerged.
Its founder member was Jonah Sithole, born in October, 1956.
The group called itself Devera Ngwena (which loosely
means "follow the crocodile") Jazz Band. The music by this group was
a fusion of Zairean rhumba with local rhythms, which is commonly known as
sungura beat.
Jonah Moyo (not the politician), who worked as a clerk at Mashaba
Asbestos Mine near Masvingo, thought up the idea of establishing a band which
would play for the miners at month-ends.
He saw this move as a way of making extra cash for himself as his
full-time job, including overtime, did not give him enough money to make ends
meet.
The idea became a reality in 1979 when Jonah asked Patrick Zhuwawu (not
the MP) who had been playing drums for a group known as Mandoz in Masvingo to
join him.
Patrick was also given a job at Mashaba Mine and serious rehearsals with
two other guitarists began.
For three evenings a week the band was engaged in song-writing and
practice sessions.
After a successful evening during one of their month-end performances,
which was attended by over 500 people from the mining compound and surrounding
areas, Jonah had convinced his players that forming a band was a worthwhile
venture.
The mining authorities were also convinced that apart from the band
providing recreation to the children of the miners, the venture could be
financially viable to the mine.
As a result a contract was signed between the band and the mine whereby
it was agreed that the mine would provide musical equipment for the band in
return for some of the band's income until the equipment was fully paid for.
After this, there was no looking back, Jonah soon secured a recording
deal with Teal Recording Company (now called Gramma Records).
At independence, Devera Ngwena Jazz Band was the band of the moment. In
no time at all they made the top 10 charts with hits like "Barbara"
and "Solo naMutsai".
Between 1981 and 1989, Devera Ngwena recorded 13
albums and 57 singles most of them selling over 100 000 copies each, thus
becoming one of the best sellers the country had ever seen.
A touring British group, UB40, spent several hours
listening to their music and later asked the band to share the stage with them
at Rufaro Stadium in Harare.
The popularity of Devera Ngwena soared, as most people could not believe
that the unique sound they were hearing was coming from a mining compound in
Zimbabwe.
The advantage the group had was the fact that most mining compounds in
Zimbabwe were using migrant labour usually from Malawi and Mozambique.
Moyo quickly learned that to appeal to these people he had to sometimes
use their rhythms and languages. Songs such as "Lekani Kuula" sung in
Chi Chewa, a Malawian language, was written with this idea in mind.
Zhuwawu, the drummer, could speak Chi Sena, a Mozambican language, as
his folks were originally from there. As a result he also assisted in the phrasing
of some of the words.
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