By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
REGGAE/DANCEHALL star Winky D, who is currently on tour of Canada, is set to collaborate with his longtime friends Slice International on a remake of the song “Ndiwe”. “Ndiwe” was a big hit in the new millennium and it influenced “I Want It That Way” by the American group called Backstreet Boys.
So popular was “Ndiwe” that the Chitungwiza boy band took the music scene by storm and toured around Zimbabwe. Slice International had Tinos “Slicey T” Viriri, Gaylord “Junior D” Gwatidzo, Allan “Flavour” Mupanduki, Lenin “Puton” Chingaira and Collin “Sondy Benz” Sondayi as its original band members.
And now, the group is on a revival with their first commercial song featuring Winky D, who apparently is one of the most talented reggae/dancehall artistes to emerge in the country. According to the Canadian-based Slicey T, the leader of the group, Slice International and Winky D talked of a possible collaboration on the sidelines of “Da Bigman” show held this week in Toronto.
“Winky D had a splendid show here this week and we managed to clinch a deal to feature him on ‘Ndiwe’ remake since we are reuniting this year as Slice International. We had fun meeting Winky D, who is our young brother, and quite honestly he commands a huge following in Canada. Despite all the popularity and fame Winky is still as humble as ever,” Slicey T said.
Slicey T promised Winky D to return home this Christmas during which time they hope to go on a national tour. “We discussed the reunion and how we hope to revive Slice International. We decided that we will go on a national tour featuring other acts in the mould of Roki, Stunner and Jah Prayzah,” he said.
Slicey T said he was hopeful that the reunion would bring back the yesteryear memories to their fans in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia. Slice International was formed in 1998 after five boys who lived in the same neighbourhood came together to record music.
Flavour was the lead vocalist, Puton who is the son of the popular revolutionary singer Cde Chinx, was the songwriter, Sondy Benz was the producer and keyboardist while Junior D and Slicey T were the backing vocalists.
The group battled to record their debut album “Vimbai Neni” in August 1999. In 2000, the group released their sophomore album “Zuva Rasvika” that featured the hit “Ndiwe” and “Hupenyu”. The following year they released “Nhasi Nhasi” while “Wakavimbisa” was released in 2004 and “Uchadzoka” in 2006.
