Kenneth chingodora (hanga ndeyangu, musango nedondo hitsmaker) - documentary

Kenneth Chigodora died poor Many people today still wonder why the late Chimurenga musician Kenneth Chigodora of Musango Ndodzungaira fame had to abandon his promising musical career opting to retire to his rural home where he died a mere peasant farmer. Chigodora, who was best known for his sarcasm and humour in songs such as Sisi Dhori and Ndine Urombo, had his musical career blossoming during the time he undertook a carpentry course at Mavhudzi Training Centre near Rusape around 1983. At the centre, which mainly catered for those who had been disadvantaged by the liberation war, Chigodora became a renowned vocalist-cum-mbira player in the local Nyadzonya Mbira Band. In 1986, the Sweet Melodies, then a little-known group based at Chevron Hotel in Masvingo, relocated to Balfour Hotel in Rusape where one Fred Mtisi became their promoter. The group, under the leadership of Dickson Dube ,developed an interest in Chigodora’s mastery on vocals and engaged him on a part-time basis. Chigodora immediately proved his musical prowess and soon penned his first song Africa, which became an instant hit. Having proved his mettle, Chigodora became a full time member and during the late 80s the group released the hit tracks Musango Ndodzungaira and Ndakakuti Sara Ukaramba, which catapulted him to dizzy heights. This unfortunately did not go down well with the group leader, Dube, who felt his powers were being usurped. Around 1990, Dube opted out at a time Chigodora was about to record yet another album. With Dube’s exit Chigodora could not record under the banner of Sweet Melodies as the name belonged to Dube. Stranded and battling for a suitable name to use, Royal Melodies and Black Elephant were apt proposals. Most probably because Chigodora’s totem was the elephant (Samanyanga) and it was also his proposal, the group finally settled on Black Elephant as their new name. Chigodora went on to name his album, Chigodora Vaimbire which apparently was meant to provoke Dube who had left in a huff supposing Chigodora could not take the group to high levels of success. However the group later agreed to change the title to Vaimbire. A few weeks after the release of the album, four members of the six-member group (excluding Dube) died in unbelievable succession all emanating from mysterious short illnesses. The first to die was lead guitarist Mike Makombe who barely after three months was followed by John Nyamarimba. Six months later, Nyamarimba’s brother Mike also died. Four months after that, Denmore Sunday also died, leaving Chigodora and Chris Mukwindidza as the only members of the Black Elephant. Besides the deaths wreaking havoc, the group also plunged into a financial quagmire. Chigodora then approached Robson Banda and the two struck a deal in which the skeletal Black Elephant would merge with the Black Eagles for shows in order to breathe some life into Chigodora’s group. Unfortunately, the arrangement only worked for a while before Job Mteswa deserted Banda’s group to join Oliver Mtukudzi. The void left by Mteswa in the Black Eagles turned into a blessing for Chris Mukwindidza who quickly became a full time member of the group ditching Chigodora. Chigodora with his one man Black Elephant Band came to his wit’s end and trekked to his rural Wedza home where he became a peasant farmer till he breathed his last. That marked an end to the life of the Black Elephant Band. Chris Mukwindidza (the only known surviving member of the Black Elephant) and Leonard Mapako Chizengeni have today successfully revived the Black Eagles and confidently boast that the sky is the limit for their group.