Tongai Moyo grooming 21 year old son Peter

By Kudakwashe Gwabanayi

For someone who tried at least two careers before settling for the guitar, there is no better way of retiring than knowing your son will take the dream further.

Tongai Moyo, who played football and once worked as hospital clerk at Kwekwe Hospital, is grooming his son into the music industry.  Dhewa, as he is affectionately known by his legion of fans, is taking his 21-year-old son Peter through his first steps of his musical career.

“I have always wanted my son to be a footballer. I have supported him in his football endeavours and was keen to see him play in the professional leagues of Europe.

“When he was in South Africa, I urged him to try his luck with clubs that side, but now I think the guitar is the best thing I can leave for him.”

Dhewa said age was catching up with him and it was fast becoming necessary to look into the future of the band he moulded — Utakataka Express.

“I am not getting any younger. I actually want to retire whilst I still have some energy to spare for my farm activities, that is why I have thought of roping in Peter (Moyo) so that he may be able to take over, or better still, start his own thing.”

When this writer caught up with Peter at his father’s Msasa Park residence in Kwekwe, he looked like a young Tongai and even dressed like him. Clad in a bright white shirt, striped pair of trousers and long-pointed shoes, Peter expressed excitement on the latest developments.

“I am very happy that my father has eventually decided to let me learn the ropes in music. I have always wanted to play music, especially with him, but he often said I was too young and should concentrate on school. After school he wanted me to play football and I am very happy that he has given me this opportunity to do something that I have always wanted to do.”

Dhewa, who himself is an avid football player, said if he could teach his son to play football he would have done so, but since he is a professional musician he will teach him the guitar.

“We had a father-and-son talk about this and I told him of my reasons why I had this change of heart. I will only unveil him on stage when I feel that he is ripe.”

Peter said that he was currently learning to strum the lead guitar and the vocals.

“I have always looked up to my father for inspiration when it comes to music. I like the way he plays the lead and the way he sings.”

He admitted that he was drawing a lot of lessons from the other band members more than from his father.

“I actually feel a lot comfortable working with the other guys on the band, not that I don’t strike a good rapport with my father, but, hey, he is still my father.”

Peter did his primary education at Kwekwe Primary School before going to Chaplin High School in Gweru for secondary school. After playing for several Kwekwe’s Division Two teams and quitting a white-collar job, Dhewa realised that music was his ordained journey.

In 1989 he met sungura legend and the late Leonard Tazvivinga Dembomawara, popularly known as Leonard Dembo, who inspired him further to pursue the dream. In his career’s early years, Dhewa worked with Oliver Mtukudzi because they both lived in the same town.

After close to five years trying to find space in the studio, Dhewa managed to record Utakataka (1995), which was his first album. The following year, he recorded Vimbo, which got him much attention in the music fraternity. A string of well-polished songs then followed that made the Samanyemba hit-maker one of the most-sought-after musicians to date.

In 2005, the then Kwekwe City Council mayor Stanford Bonongwe honoured Dhewa with a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to the arts sector in the city. This year Dhewa is set to release his 13th album, Toita Basa, recorded in Australia to minimise the risk of piracy.