Dendera war costs Tryson Chimbetu

By Godwin Muzari

Dendera musician Tryson Chimbetu has admitted that feuding with fellow dendera musicians, especially his cousin Suluman, has had negative impact on his career, which has led him to adopt a new approach to his profession.

The major disadvantage Tryson suffered due to his martial approach to music was losing his role as Zimbabwe Red Cross Society youth advocate, a golden opportunity for professional assistance from the organisation that has taken Alick Macheso through many successful projects, which have added glitters to his colourful career.

Macheso is ZRCS humanitarian ambassador and his role has revolutionarised his approach to professional matters while the organisation has supported him in various ways including spearheading the glamorous launch of his album “Tsoka Dzerwendo” and mediating in the recent return of Orchestra Mberikwazvo key band members that had deserted the group.

Tryson could have been enjoying similar benefits, but ZRCS abandoned the partnership with the Dendera musician following his protracted social media and public outbursts attacking his cousin Suluman in what became known as the “Dendera war”.

Suluman also used to publicly attack his cousin until he realised his mistake and took a diplomatic approach to play the saint in the feud while Tryson became the villain.

A source at ZRCS revealed that the organisation made numerous unsuccessful attempts to dissuade Tryson from the habit.

“He was supposed to lead by example as role model for the youths. The organisation had several meetings with the musician and advised him to make peace with his cousin. That move would have made him a good example to young people.

“Tryson would agree to do so, yet he never took his promise seriously. There was a time when some articles were published in local newspapers announcing that ‘Dendera war’ was over with Tryson being quoted saying good words about Sulu. The campaign did not last long as Tryson would just turn back to his old ways unexpectedly,” said the source.

The source said Tryson did not take his role seriously as further evidenced by the way he neglected other important assignments and failed to attend important meetings without giving explanations.

Although Tryson did not want to talk much about his ZRCS role, the musician admitted that warring was not good for his career. He confessed that conflicts in the industry have cost him and wasted the time he should have been using to better his career.

“I cannot say much about the Red Cross issue. It was voluntary work and I did what I could. I still have high respect for the organisation,” said Tryson.

“On the issue of feuds in music, I did not want to deliberately fight my cousin or anyone, but I was provoked at times. I have my feelings and when I expressed them, critics pounded me unfairly. However, I have now learnt that it does not help to fight anyone in this industry.

“I have lost precious opportunities in unnecessary fights and I have now adopted a new strategy. I was young then and I believe I have matured. Where I was an overzealous young man, I am now a responsible man because I now have a wife and child to look after. I have grown up.

“I still feel there are people that want to pull me down, but I will not focus on them anymore. I want to focus on my music and creating something that is different from all the other Dendera musicians.”

Tryson said he believed his current album “Ballon’dor Victory” could have done far much better if he had adopted this approach earlier. It is a good album that was poorly marketed because of various shortcomings.

Ironically, his album came a few months before Macheso’s new release that was thoroughly marketed through his partnership ZRCS.

Commenting of their relationship with Tryson, Takemore Mazuruse of ZRCS could not reveal much but admitted they had differences with the dendera musician.

“We worked well together until some differences over various issues emerged. We respected his approach and decisions and we also feel he contributed his best.

“However, due to the differences I cannot disclose, we are no longer working together closely. We are prepared to work with him in separate arrangements. We are open to work with anyone,” said Mazuruse. The Herald