Shoes too big for music legends’ children

By Vasco Chaya

Children of music legends — living and dead — this week showcased their prowess during a gig at City Sports Bar’s Monday Jam Session.

The popular session which brings different musicians every other Monday was treated to the talents — raw and polished — of Biggie and Eriya Tembo, Faheem and Anubu Somanje, Tendai Chimombe, Aggabu Nyabinde, Garry Tight, Peter Moyo, Chibadura Sons, Derick Majaivana, Tryson and Douglas Chimbetu among others.

The Somanjes, Nyabinde and Tight were the toast of the night as they played their parents’ songs to perfection while also introducing their own songs.

Nyabinde and Tight resemble their fathers in all aspects; body, voice and style, hence they were a delight to watch while Somanje had the whole house on the dance floor with his band’s sungura-paced music.

This week’s Monday Jam Session was packed as revellers are now warmed up to this weekly gig as most songs are yesteryear hits that most middle-aged people identify with.

Biggie Tembo’s children performed his hits such as Babamunini Francis while Chimombe showcased her father’s gems such as Jemedza and Zvaitika among others.

Chibadura Sons belted out golden hits such as 5 000 Kuroora, Mukadzi Wamakandiroorera and Rairai Vana among others and that was the same with the Somanjes who performed Hakuna Shasha and Seiko Kuonda without promoting their own compositions at the fully-packed joint.

However, from the look of things, 98 percent of sons and daughters of the legends are struggling to make their own hits. The majority of them do not have even one hit song of their own save for a few; the likes of Ammara Brown, Selmor Mtukudzi and Suluman Chimbetu among others.

Chimombe told the Daily News that the prevailing socio-economic situation in the country is hindering them from churning hits.

“Back in the day, recording studios were few in numbers but were effective in terms of producing good music that can last for decades. Now the industry is flooded by ineffective recording studios hence it is difficult to come up with a hit song.

“Apart from this, local radio stations we have now are biased towards a certain music genre or an individual artiste due to corruption, as a result our music ends up lacking promotions they deserve,” Chimombe said.

The same sentiments were shared by Biggie Tembo Junior.

“Our working environment is different from that of our fathers but we are really trying our best to come up with a hit or two in the near future,” he said. Daily News