Last week was awash with news affecting African celebrities.  The first news was of the death of Tongai Moyo from non Hodgkin's lymphoma.  Tongai Moyo was a Zimbabwean Sungura artist who was a spirited performer and enjoyed bringing in an element of glamour to his work.   According to allafrica.com, he was "so determined to leave a trail of success and make a retirement plan for himself and his family, that he stretched his business tentacles and launched a clothing brand, in addition to a farm, and a retail shop that was in his rural area of Zhombe" This was a man who was a musician and an entrepreneur.  In the same way that Oliver Mtukudzi is known as Tuku to his fans and friends, Tongai Moyo was called Dhewa by fans and friends. 

Being non Zimbabwean, my introduction to his music occured in the states via the song Samayemba.  Till today, I really don't know what that song is  all about but there was just something about the rhythm that caught my attention.  It seemed to invite one to clap and stamp their feets rhythmically.  I loved it. I learnt since then that, he had 14 albums to his name and " began his career in 1988 in Kwekwe. After stringing with several bands, he joined Shirichena Jazz Band as a session musician, helping them to release two albums and a single. He assembled the Utakataka Express before releasing his first solo album, Vimbo, in 1996.An impeccable dresser, Moyo is well-known for hits such as Naye and Muchina Muhombe." newzimbabwe.com   May his soul - Rest In Perfect Peace.

Enclosed are two of his most known songs -

1) Naye

2) Samayemba 

Discography

October 15th was a day in which we commemorated the birth of Fela.  On that day, we take time out  to look at his life, his message and see how that message can impact our day to day lives.  Actually, I promised one of the guests that was interviewed on this site that even if everyone forgets , on my show I will spend my whole show on Fela, his music, his message, his flaws and his legacy.  I did.  Unfortunately, right before my show - all my notes disappeared.  So I had to rely quite heavily on wikipedia and of course stories that I had accumulated through the years from people that worked with him or associated with him etc. 

Points discussesd:

1) What's Afrobeat?

2) Who is Fela?

3) His journey - London -->Nigeria -----> Ghana ---> USA  (black panther) --->  Nigeria

4) His troubles with the military government

5)Controversies ---> Polygamy, African Traditional Religion,  Misogynist

6) Legacy - Common, NAS, Mos Def, Fela

7) What can we learn from him?

Music Used In That Show:

1) Trouble dey sleep Yanga go wake am  - Fela Kuti

2) Think Africa - Seun Kuti

3) N.E.P.A  (dub)  - Tony Allen and Afrobeat 2000

4) Truth don die (House Mix) - Femi Kuti

5) Peace no dey  - Kaleta and Zozo Afrobeat

6)  Go je je - Antibalas

7) Suffering and Smiling - Fela Kuti

8)  Zombie  - Fela Kuti

9)  Wahala (Identity) - Dele Sosimi

10) Lady - Fela Kuti

11) Na Oil - Seun Kuti

12)  Di Bombs - Ikwunga - The Afrobeat poet

13)  Warrior Songs - NAS and Alicia Keys

14) Time Traveling - Common

15) Fela - Hugh Masekela

16) Palaver - Ify Otuya

Here is the long clip of the show.  Enjoy!

Discography

Please note on 10/22/11 - I will be bringing some very important guests to my show and we will be looking at a controversial issue which of course is tied to the Soul.  Let's talk!  :)