There were many groups that revolutionised the Zimbabwean music scene by coming up with new ideas, new rhythms and new approaches to music composition and arrangement. These were groups which invented new sounds.
Talking Drum was a brilliant musical outfit which emerged in the mid 80s. The group was composed of talented musicians: Henry Peters on bass guitar, Brian Rusike on keyboard, Saba Mbata on drums, Louis Mhlanga on lead guitar and Michael Lanas on lead vocals and sub lead. The immensely talented cast brought a new style and a refreshingly new sound to the Zimbabwean music landscape; something well-polished and fresh to the ear. The group’s frontman, Michael Lanas, was a good song writer. He composed (what in music circles is called) mature music and his songs still appeal to us to this day.
Michael Lanas was a professional pharmacist and I first met him at his Montagu pharmacy in Harare. It was during the early days of the formation of the group, Talking Drum. I wanted to sell a disco set which I had bought with the money I had got as an allowance when I was at Tongogara Assemby Point. We would get allowances to buy essential commodities for use at the camp. Comrades like Cde Chihombe Madhara and Cde Chapungu would bring cash to pay comrades’ allowances. I kept that money and used it to buy a disco set at Strobe Company in Msasa.
I travelled with the disco to many places such as Dotito, Mount Darwin and Norton with Cde Freedom “Lovers” Mudiwa. At that time Cde Freedom was working as a security agent at ZANU (PF), 88 Manica Road. Most of the money I got from gate takings would go towards transport and advertising. I used hired transport because I did not have my own transport then. That is what prompted me to decide to sell the disco set to Mike Lanas. Mike bought the disco set and gave it the name “Disco Deluxe”. Before Talking Drum went on Stage, a disc jockey would entertain the music fans with the disco set.
Talking Drum left a huge mark on the Zimbabwe music landscape. Whatever Mike touched turned into gold. When Lucky Dube came to perform in Harare at Rufaro Stadium, Mike Lanas and Talking Drum opened the show with a big bang. The Rufaro concert had 3 groups; Solomon Skuza, Lucky Dube and Talking Drum. I was privileged to attend the preconcert cocktail party a day before the Rufaro Stadium concert. Promoter J. J. Chavhunduka, a big brother who loved me so much, invited me to the party. It was a chance for me to mix and mingle with big artists.
What made Talking Drum so successful was that they created a new brand which was identified only with the musical group. Their group had an identity. Their unique music style occupied its own space. They competed with other musical groups knowing very well that they were standing on solid ground. They produced hit after hit, among them, The River, (Come to Me) Hapana Mazwi and Iyi Ngoma. We still love Talking Drum and we will always love Talking Drum.
Whenever we talk about musical legends in Zimbabwe, we cannot forget an extra talented musician that Mike Lanas was. He succeeded because he was original and sounded Zimbabwean. He raised the Zimbabwean flag very high.
Another musical group which must never be omitted from the narrative of Zimbabwean music is Ilanga. That high-ridding star-studded group came on a mission to conquer the world. The group had big dreams and they soared beyond the skies. Nothing could limit them. If I am to compare them, they fared equally the same with the Joburg bound hit maker, Band New Tutankhamen. Ilanga was in a class of its own.
Ilanga lined up Don Gumbo on bass guitar, Andy Brown on lead guitar, Charles Mangena on keyboards, Keith Ferguson on keyboards, Gibson Nyoni on drums, Adam Chisvo on percussion, Busi Ncube and Chinx Chingaira on vocals; an unbelievably large galaxy of stars to be in one group. Not surprisingly, the group attracted the attention of all races from all corners of the globe.
When I first saw Ilanga performing at the Holiday Inn Nite Spot, I told myself that the group was destined for great success. Most of their shows were sold out. They performed for huge crowds. They had struck the correct musical code. That was one group that made my heart beat fast whenever I saw them on stage. I knew what was to come because the group coordinated their act on stage professionally. I always expected fireworks when they started performing. Ilanga would look very simple when going on stage and doing their sound check. You would be surprised with how they changed gears to overdrive when they started performing. Ilanga worked very hard to reach such a high level.
Ilanga produced hit after hit. They had the correct recipe for cooking music. Cde Chinx produced Nerudo, a blaster of song. Busi Ncube produced True Love which is still relevant to this day. Don Gumbo was a great composer, singer and performer. Don gave us Joy, Love and Happiness, Who Shall Save the Human Race, Shosholoza and Tshisalanga to mention but a few.
Surely any history of Zimbabwean music that leaves out Ilanga would be woefully inadequate. They raised the Zimbabwean flag very high.
Zimbabwe produced many other groups and individuals who sounded original and produced great music. Innocent Utsihwegota, Mateu, Willom Tight, Fortune Muparutsa, Tanga wekwaSando, Chiwoniso Maraire, Giraffe, Plaxedes Wenyika, Andy Brown, Nicholas Somerai, Steve Makoni and the list goes on. All these artists require time and space to tell their stories. They contributed immensely towards the development of our music industry. We will talk at length about them in some episodes to come.