By Fidelis Manyange

THE intervention of Smoko fans from Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa has seen Boys DzeSmoko re-uniting after many years of separation.
Such is the power of the late Fanuel ‘System’ Tazvida’s music and brand that many years after passing on, many still want his band to rise again and create the magic of yesteryear.
That desire has come to fruition with former band members putting aside their differences to revive the legacy of the inimitable System Tazvida.
The talented raspy voiced musician created gems that delighted many across the country and beyond our borders.
The team, now under the banner ‘Chazezesa Challengers Boys DzeSmoko’, is back with the proverbial bang as they have not just decided to team up and map the way forward, but have hit the ground running.
The core of the band comprises original members Lucky Mumiriki, Leeroy ‘Kamusena’ Lunga and Isaac Tazvida, all determined to have the group reclaim its yesteryear glory.
Already a new album has been completed and will be launched next month.
Titled Smoko Revival Zvachose, the album seeks to show that the group means business.
Tracks on the album include ‘Edza Zvimwe’, ‘Ndiudze’, ‘Hama Yako’, ‘Usaore Moyo’, ‘Wongorora’ and ‘Kuita Zvakanaka’.
Lunga used to play the lead guitar and also doubled as band manager, while Mumiriki is popular for his stint with Alick Macheso’s Orchestra Mberikwazvo where he played the rhythm guitar.
This time around, Mumiriki will be the director of guitars.
Although the musician has recovered from a stroke, it seems he is determined to get back on stage full time.
Isaac Tazvida, System’s younger brother, will be on vocals.
He is also the sponsor of the group.
This writer had the opportunity to sample some tracks on the album at Jabulani Ndlovu’s recording studio in Harare.
Namibia-based Smoko fan and funder, Ofias Mubaiwa, together with South African-based Isaac Tazvida, came together with other fans in various countries and created the ‘Smoko Task Team’ that raised funds to help revive the band.
The fan-club established a whatsapp group in which they interacted and called upon Lunga, Mumiriki and Isaac Tazvida to unite.
Mumiriki, for example, had left Boys DzeSmoko unceremoniously to join Alick Macheso as a rhythm guitarist.
The team (Mumiriki, Lunga and Isaac Tazvida) in their formative years, before they respectively got married, lived in Unit N, Seke, Chitungwiza.
And apparently Lunga is married to System Tazvida’s sister.
When they parted ways, Lunga formed Boys DzeSena and has recorded seven albums from 2002 to date.
Isaac Tazvida, a former agricultural extension worker, went solo and produced four albums.
“We are not finding the going tough since we’ve all been in the game for a long time and we were the powerhouse of Chazezesa Chllengers behind mukoma System,” Lunga said.
“Right now the ‘Smoko Fan Club’ is congested with people who want to know when the album is going to be available and when we are going to hold live shows.”
Lunga said the group would remain true to the Smoko identity.
“Despite adding other guitar antics and singing styles to catch up with the latest trends, we haven’t lost the Smoko touch,” said Lunga.
“The three of us each contributed two songs to the album.”
Patriots Arts can confirm that the group plans to hold live shows at the end of the month and is expecting support from the likes of Alick Macheso and man-of-the-moment, Jah Prayzah.
With the re-uniting of former Chazezesa Challengers band members, one hopes groups like R and K and Africa Revenge will take a cue and do their fans a favour by ironing out their ‘irreconcilable differences’ for the good of the music industry.
And if the group finds success, members must not get big-headed and split again.
Maybe the established Smoko Task Team will keep them intact.
And did you know that Smoko is an acronym for ‘Simple Music of Kanindo Origin?’