HARARE - Sungura musician, Josphat Somanje's hit 'Handibvume (Haulume)', has topped a new poll of the Best Song and Video Of The Year, 2009. (Pictured: Josphat Somanje's hit song has won song and video of the year)
The 2009 song received the highest number of votes in the music survey conducted by State radio. The humble sungura singer beat the likes of Alick Macheso, Tongai Moyo and many others. This illustrates how popular Josphat Somanje’s Haulume song is, said a radio DJ. Somanje has been a fixture in the sungura scene since the late eighties. Since then, his backing group, Pengaudzoke, has steadily risen to be one of Zimbabwe’s top acts. Somanje’s messages often feature tales of love, poverty, and offer moral lessons, advice, and social commentary.
The song (Handibvume) Haulume, a tale about spousal abuse and infidelity, has struck public consciousness with its catchy lyrics. Somanje rocked the local music scene with the hit song last year, taken off his album This Time which spurred him to overnight fame. His backing band was founded by brothers Daiton and Josphat Somanje who took care of vocals and lead guitar, respectively. Poverty and the harsh reality of farm life led them to take refuge in their music and, eventually, carve out their careers. The band, whose name translates as “what goes around comes around”, released their first singles in 1989, and also issued their first album, Kwatakabva Nenhamo, that same year.
Despite the departure of the Ngowera Brothers (who left in 1993 to form their own band, the Twin Brothers), their success has carried on. Zvibate Pamhaka was released in 1997 to immense success and widespread acclaim. The following year they released a greatest hits album, compiling songs from their first eight albums. They produced several albums after that.
However, this wasn’t enough to keep the band together. Lead guitarist Josphat Somanje left the band for a solo career, amid rumours of money disputes. He released his first solo album, Sango, in 2002. He has never looked back, culminating in the chart-busting Handibvume.
Post published in: Music