Give the boys time, Dembo widow pleads

By Brenda Phiri

Eunice Dembo, the widow of legendary musician Leonard Dembo, has pleaded with fans to give her children Tendai and Morgan a chance as they grow musically. The two brothers are following in their father’s footsteps although they are yet to prove their mettle.

“Morgan was 10 and Tendai was nine when my husband died 17 years ago. If it was not for the videos and pictures, they would have forgotten their father’s face.

“They grew up with no one to teach them music and everything that they do musically, they learnt on their own,” she said at the commemorative gig held on Wednesday at Jazz 105.

Eunice said she was proud of the progress that her sons had made so far despite criticism from various quarters.

“They had no father’s guidance growing up and I feel it is unfair to bombard them all the time for their shortcomings. It humbles me to see all these people who used to support my husband carrying over to supporting my sons. God has intervened and his music is living on through them,” she said.

The Dembo brothers, however, did not disappoint fans who came to celebrate the life of the late musician. They went down memory lane with their father’s classic tracks before sampling their own.

Tendai and Morgan serenaded the music lovers with good music with help from Innocente Mjintu, a former member of the Barura Express and later Suluman Chimbetu. Morgan exhibited his vocal prowess while Tendai worked his magic on the guitar.

Raphael Makwiramiti, the late Dembo’s manager, officially handed over a 17-year-old “lucky” shirt to the young Dembos’ manager Wellington Mupandare.

Among guests who attended were Nicholas Zacharia, Jah Prayzah, Kireni Zulu and Alexio Kawara. Also present were Simon Chimbetu, Biggie Tembo and System Tazvida’s widows.

An original copy of “Chitekete” went under the hummer for US$1 100 after almost an hour of bidding before Uzumba legislator Cde Simbaneuta Mudarikwa bought it. He is a former promoter of Leonard Dembo. The Herald