Musician, Tongai Moyo remembered

Kwekwe (The Times-New Ziana)-This Tuesday marks the eighth anniversary of the passing on of award winning Sungura icon Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo, who died at the age of 43 after succumbing to Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

His son Peter Moyo vowed on his Facebook account that he would, through the grace of God, continue with his father’s legacy.

“I am still running the project which you started and then handed over to me. Despite the hurdles, temptations and other obstacles, I will continue to press forward through the guidance of the Almighty God,” said Peter, who inherited his father’s band Utakataka Express in 2011.

Peter expressed gratitude to God for giving him the strength and wisdom to lead the band as well as looking after the family.

“I miss you Dad, Murozvi Mukuru, Muridzi Wenyaya, Mopao Mokonzi, Dewa, Bvumavaranda, Muvambi we Utakataka Express.”

Born on March 12, 1968 in Kwekwe, Tongai rose to fame in the early 90s after releasing smash hits including ‘Samanyemba’ and ‘Mudzimu weshiri’ with his band Utakataka Express.

Moyo started his career in 1988 in his home-town Kwekwe where he played for numerous bands, eventually joining Shirichena Jazz Band as a session musician and helped the band to release two albums and a single.

The most popular was “Ndoita Zvangu Ndega” which was released in 1991 when Moyo was virtually unknown by then. He went on to form his own band the Utakataka Express after which he released his first solo album, ‘Vimbo’ in 1996.

The album earned Moyo a name in the music industry, which was dominated by the likes of Nicholas Zakaria and Alick Macheso who sang the same genre. Since then, he never looked back and went on to release 14 albums.

The album “Naye” saw “Dhewa” hogging the limelight with the chart topper “Nemumvura Mese” which earned him two Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA). At the time of his death, Moyo had just released his 14th album ‘Toita basa’.

He won several ZIMA and National Arts Merit Awards NAMA).

Tongai was married to Miniehle Mukweli and had six children Natasha, Nicole, Obert (Tongai Jnr), Tanaka, Nyasha and Peter Moyo.
New Ziana