Antony Chawagarira
HARARE — Sungura maestro Alick Macheso has endorsed InTotal Band, describing it as a powerful moment of generational continuity as the young ensemble shared the stage with some of Zimbabwe’s and Africa’s celebrated music legends at the Ecobank Legends Night Africa 2.0, held at Alexandra Sports Club on Saturday.
Macheso’s public gesture toward InTotal Band was one of the notable moments of the star-studded concert, with the young musicians receiving what was viewed as a symbolic passing of the torch from one of Zimbabwe’s most influential musical figures.
The endorsement came as InTotal Band played a central role in the successful staging of the concert, providing live musical backing and helping to bridge different generations, genres, and musical traditions throughout the night.
Led by director Joseph Chinouriri, popularly known as Jose Sax, InTotal Band has built a reputation for its disciplined live performances and interpretations of classical Zimbabwean music, positioning itself as one of the emerging ensembles helping to keep the country’s musical heritage alive for younger audiences.
Macheso’s recognition of the group therefore carried significance beyond the concert, as it came from an artist whose career has spanned decades and whose music has played a major role in the development and popularisation of contemporary sungura.
Legends Night Africa 2.0 brought together an array of Zimbabwean and international acts, including Malian music icon Salif Keita, Congolese soukous veteran Yondo Sister, Leonard Zhakata, Tanga weKwaSando, Albert Nyathi, Sandra Ndebele, Jeys Marabini, IYASA, Ivy Kombo, Cool Crooners, and Mai Patai.
InTotal Band was central to the musical transitions between the various performers, navigating sungura, Afro-jazz, pop, and traditional sounds while providing a common musical foundation for artists from different backgrounds.
The ensemble’s role was further elevated through its collaboration with Keita, who returned to Zimbabwe after an 11-year absence. The Malian legend had previously indicated that he had followed InTotal Band’s work on social media and was impressed with the musicians’ versatility.
For InTotal Band, the opportunity to work alongside established names such as Macheso and Keita represents a significant milestone in its development and reinforces the growing role of younger instrumentalists in preserving and reinterpreting Zimbabwean and African musical heritage.
The group’s emergence has also been supported by veteran guitarist and producer Clive “Mono” Mukundu, who has clarified that he serves as mentor-in-chief rather than as owner of the band, with Chinouriri retaining operational and artistic leadership.
The mentorship arrangement has enabled the young musicians to combine contemporary energy with experience from established figures in Zimbabwe’s music industry.
Macheso’s endorsement at Legends Night consequently provided a memorable moment in the unfolding story of a band seeking to move beyond the traditional cover-band circuit and to establish itself as a professional live music institution.
As Zimbabwe’s music industry continues to grapple with the preservation of its rich catalogue and the need to expose younger generations to classic compositions, InTotal Band’s growing presence on major stages could provide an important link between the country’s musical past and its future.
At Alexandra Sports Club, the message from the stage was clear: Zimbabwe’s musical legacy is not only being remembered — a new generation of musicians is stepping forward to carry it forward.
