By Clemence Tashaya
EENHANA – A sungura artist based in the Katima Mulilo’s Zambezi region, Simon Chidhuza says the much awaited video project for the song titled Cuito Cuanavale is now complete.
The song, which is on his fifth album titled Dr Sam Nuyoma – the Hero which vowed dignitaries and many excombatants at the 2011 Namibian independence at Otjiwarongo is a popular hit in the Zambezi region. The song has also become so popular with many war veterans in the Zambezi region such as Alfred Kabende, who is putting some final polishes on the much awaited video. “Don’t forget that this song on our fifth album is still popular here, especially now that we are towards elections time and hence the call by well wishers to put final polishing on the song Cuito Cunanavale, says Simon.
The ever smiling pint -sized artist adds that war veterans based in Katima Mulilo often shed tears when he plays the song on stage because it reminds them of the painful activities and combating styles they used during the liberation of the struggle in Cuito Cuanavale, Angola. “I was booked to play at a SWAPO rally in the Sibinda constituency in the northern part of Zambezi region and we witnessed many people who were from opposition parties surrendering their cards for the ruling mighty SWAPO party,” he explains
He also says he is proud to be associated with the Namibian liberations struggle through songs with his band, Sanyati Stars, which is still intact hence the release of the video ahead of this year’s elections. Sanyati Stars comprise of Zimbabweans and Namibians based in the Zambezi region. They have performed at many cultural occasions, government functions and independence celebrations in Namibia and Zimbabwe. They use live band instruments.
Simon, who fuses Shona and Silozi languages in his compositions, has been making waves in the Zambezi region where he is based. He has made his presence felt on the music scene with his sixth studio album Ndiripo, literally meaning “I am still here”. Backed by Sanyati Stars since his formative years before he moved to Namibia, they have proven a force to reckon with in Sungura music.
Simon relocated to Namibia in 2004 and since he has been churning album after album including Hazvigoni, Chirezva, Fungiso and Ko Zuwi another album sung in Silozi meaning “what’s going on”. The beat is heavy on the drum while he laces his vocals over an addictive rhythm guitar riffs. Other songs sung in Silozi are Haiba Unisaka and Ubali Wangu which was also co-composed by his colleagues, Zatrick Maziyane and Ben Mwanamwali. Apart from that Simon and the Sanyati Star are currently involved in fundraising for the flood victims in the Sangwali constituency.