By Noah Pomo.
Alexio Kawara and Tererai Mugwadi will turn back the hands of time as they perform live together again (after 8 years) in Harare this Thursday.
Tererai Mugwadi. One of Zimbabwe’s finest vocalists.
Alexio said: “We are featuring Tererai Mugwadi on this one. Our song [Tinodanana] has had a huge impact on people’s lives and in our respective careers. I also have a lot of respect for Tererai’s artistry and believe that she needs to be more out there and there is no better platform than Kuchina [series].”
Tererai Mugwadi and Alexio released ‘Tinodanana’ in 2005 which won several awards
“We won an award for the best urban Grooves song for the year. I believe it was 2005 Nama Awards.”
Alexio Kawara. One of Zim’s finest award winning composers, vocalists who has added mbira sound to his music.
“The show is at Zimbabwe German Society this 29th of August 2024. Gates open at 6:30. We are on stage from 8pm. Early tickets are still available for $10. “
Alexio & Gogo Kawara, his mother. In 1999 “Amai” was writen by Alexio inspired by his widowed mum.
Tererai said: “I am excited about the show. It’s been a while since I last performed with Alexio Kawara and Shades of Black. It’s been many years since we performed together. He is my brother, always very supportive as far as my career is concerned. Given a chance I will always answer the call. Looking forward to it and to a big turn-out. A lot of people have been nostalgic about the music we did with Chamhembe and Tatenda Jenami and that squad of music. I am looking forward to bringing back the nostalgia.’
“I have a lot of respect for my brothers Macdee and Alexio who helped me come through and I can never repay them for that.”
“I have been writing and composing melodies but nothing new has been completed yet. I have a new management team to repackage everything. I do not do music 100% fulltime. I focus on psychology, mental health and community development. I have a UNISA psychology degree. I want to influence my immediate surroundings. I live on a farm and we are able to help so many people. I am divided between the 2 interests. I will be updating people on my day to day activities on my social media pages not just my music.”
“I was overwhelmed by how ‘Tinodanana” was received. It was one of the best recordings ever. I am really grateful to Alexio and Macdonal ‘Macdee’ Chidavaenzi who were very professional.”
Tererai promises fans a good time at the show in Harare.
“I am doing live wedding music performances and ‘Tinodanana’ is always requested. It has a way of uplifting people.”
Asked what happens between 6.30 and 8pm Kawara said: “People will be just mixing and mingling. We want to give people time to settle down before the show starts. We will have a Dj playing.
Alexio Kawara’s award winning songs include ‘Tinodanana,’ ‘Shaina” and the album ‘Pfimbi yangu’ with songs like ‘Shaina and “Karwiyo aka.’ He made his musical debut with the group ‘Guess’ on the song ‘Amai’ produced by fellow band member Delani Makalima who went on to become one of Zimbabwe’s most disruptive Producers giving birth to the Urban Grooves era. Alexio would later infuse live instruments into his music as he joined the respected Afro fusion genre.
Another producer who also produced sterling work with Alexio Kawara is Clive mono Mukundu. Their song ‘Karwiyo’ was a successful fusion with African influences. Mukundu made his name with Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits as a lead guitarist. When he left he started producing music at his own Monolio Studios. Kawara was his first client.
Producer Mono Mukundu opened Monolio studios in 2006. His first client was Alexio Kawara. Mukundu played lead guitar for Tuku.
Afro fusion artist, Alexio Kawara, has added the mbira to his sound.
Tererai Mugwadi has her own music out with songs like ‘Kuchamhembe,’ and ‘Waenda.’ She collaborated with Leonard Mapfumo, Maskiri and Alexio Kawara among others. For clean and pure vocals there are not who compare with Tererai. Alexio was quick to realise the potential. The natural blend of voices won the duo awards in the era before excessive electronic influences in music and voice enhancements like the much criticized ‘Auto tune.’
Alexio Kawara and producer-lead guiarist Clive Mono Mukundu at Monolio studios
Macdonald “Macdee’ Chidavaenzi has since become one of Zimbabwe’s best and award-winning Producers. But at the time he produced ‘Tinodanana’ he was only just starting out. He was endlessly being impressed by such vocal specialists as Tererai and Plaxedes Wenyika. He was producing from a makeshift bedroom wardrobe studio in Warren Park, Harare but now has studios in the Avenues in Harare and in United Kingdom under the brand Eternity Studios.
Asked about the set-list of songs for the Thursday concert, Alexio said: “We have selected some of the songs we have not performed in a while. ‘Ndozvawakataura,’ ‘Chinyanye,’ ‘Save,’ ‘Famba,’ ‘Unombozviitirei,’ etc.”
