By Fidelis Manyange
‘HEYO NHORO’ was the opening jingle to the programme ‘Zvisikwa Zvesango’ on ZBC Radio 2, now Radio Zimbabwe presented by Grey Gambiza Moyo in the 1990s.
The track was performed by Epworth-based teachers and residents who included Herbert Simemeza (the only surviving member), Andrew Kanyowa and cousins Nesbitt and Peter Kanyowa, who called themselves the Epworth Theatrical Stars before they mutated to Epworth Theatrical Strutters.
Peter, who was the group’s leader, recorded most of the songs in addition to taking care of the choreography side of things. The Strutters were passionate about music which they used to educating their fellow Africans on diverse issues, from education to alcohol abuse. Money was secondary to them.
Unlike most groups of the time — The City Slickers, Milton Brothers, Golden Rhythm Crooners, De Black Evening Follies, Arcadia Rhythm Lights and Cool 4, among others — the Epworth-based outfit sang all their songs in the vernacular.
They were known mostly for their soulful guitar music which was almost identical to omasiganda. This was long before they added the piano, violin and shakers (hosho).
In order to reach out to more fans, the brothers founded the Epworth Theatrical Stars who performed on stage — dance, sketches, music and anything that delighted the audience.
Their act captured Charlie Chaplin’s theatricals, among many other American or European comedians. Of the three brothers, Nesbert was the best at imitating Chaplin.
It is now almost five decades since the Strutters released ‘Heyo Nhoro’. To keep the talented Strutters’ music alive, their offspring children who included Maureen Mafunga (daughter to Andrew Kanyowa) recorded a compilation album of the legends’ hits in 2014 which was subsequently launched in Strathaven, Harare. The proceeds from the sales of the compilation album were donated to disadvantaged children from Epworth schools where the group made their name.
“People should strive to have family archives which will in turn feed into national archives for the benefit of the nation. Their music is pregnant with messages from which today’s artistes should take a leaf,” says Joyce Jenje Makwenda, a renowned music critic and author.
The author of the book ‘Township Music’, Makwenda assisted the Strutters’ offspring with the compilation of the album which includes the following hits: ‘Rufaro Rwakanaka’, ‘Kudzidza Kwakanaka’, ‘Ndakambokutaurira’, ‘Barberton’, ‘Mwedzi Unopenya’, ‘Ntaba Ezikude’, ‘Baby Can We’,’One Night’, ‘Domboramwari’, ‘Marimba’, ‘Strutter Yauya’, ‘Ndinofunga’, ‘Tommy the Piper’s Son’, ‘Syncopation’ and ‘Hwahwa’.
“‘Kudzidza Kwakanaka’ was inspired by our background as teachers. Most of our students benefitted from our input,” Herbert Simemeza told The Patriot Arts during an interview at his Braeside home.
The track exhorted Africans to take up education because it was the only tool they could use in order to attain sovereignty. It is, however, ironic that the same education was ideologically skewed to serve the colonial administration.
“It takes time to come up with a decent tune, more so with a masterpiece,” said Andrew Kanyowa in an earlier interview.
“We really took our time to look smart on stage by putting on the best suits or smart casual. And the audience also turned up for our shows looking elegant in their different outfits, so as entertainers we had to be a step ahead.”
Kanyowa, who was living in Southerton at the time of his death, was buried in Epworth in 2006.
Simemeza was born at Epworth Mission in 1937, a stone’s throw away from the famous Epworth Balancing Rocks where he was educated up to Grade Seven before enrolling at Waddilove Mission for his secondary education. It was there that he also did his lower teachers’ training course.
“My first posting was at Chizungu Primary School in Epworth. When I was transferred to Epworth Mission School, I teamed up with some of my fellow teachers to form the Epworth Theatrical Strutters,” recalls Simemeza.
“Together we sang at the school assembly and did our rehearsals after school. The original Epworth Theatrical Stars soon changed its name to Epworth Theatrical Strutters after we were joined by additional members, notably John Mate, Douglas, Fred and Kerdisi Maruba as well as Gertrude Tetiwe Solani.
“We started the group as teachers at Epworth Mission School from 1948 to the early 1960s. The music, recorded by Teal Records, was only available on vinyl and played almost exclusively on the Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation (RBC),” recalls Simemeza.
“We performed ‘kumakonzati’ (concerts), tea parties and weddings.
“When we recorded our first hit song, ‘Kudzidza Kwakanaka’, we were informed of the exact time it was to be played on the airwaves so we all gathered at Peter Kanyowa’s house in Epworth to listen to it.
“The following day, we received a standing ovation from fellow teachers, pupils and members of the public. We became overnight celebrities and this went a long way in boosting our confidence.
“From the proceeds, we bought ourselves cars. I remember buying myself a Land Rover which I used to ferry commuters to and from Epworth during my spare time,”said Simemeza.
A self-taught guitarist, Simemeza also doubled as a vocalist while Peter Kanyowa played the piano.
In their early years, the Epworth Theatrical Strutters played at such venues as Mbare’s Mai Musodzi and Stodart halls as well as Mushandirapamwe Hotel and Cyril Jennings Hall. However, thanks to their growing popularity after their debut on radio, the Strutters started getting bookings countrywide.
Those were the days when iconic musicians such as Safirio Madzikatire, Douglas Maruba, Jordan Chataika, John White, Ngwaru Mapundu, Sinyoro Jackson Chinembiri and Taurai Zumba ruled the roost.
At national events, the Strutters will be remembered for being selected to welcome National Democratic Party (NDP) officials who included the late Edison Sithole, James Chikerema and George Nyandoro in 1963 at Gwanzura Stadium when the nationalists were released from detention.
Andrew, who died at 78, turned his back on music preferring to concentrate on his career as a court reporter.
His death marked an end to a golden era that spawned equally silken voiced musicians in the mould of Simangaliso Thutani and Sonny Sondo, among many others.
However, Epworth Theatrical Strutters’ music will live forever as artistes like Clive ‘Mono’ Mukundu have popularised their hits through remixes.
