THE BEAT GOES ON is a revealing music documentary that unravels the feelings, inspiration, drive and struggles experienced by both ‘old’ and ‘new’ musicians.
Debate continues to rage as to who is better between the ‘old’ and ‘new’ musicians.
The debate rages wild when musicians in discussions share the same DNA.
And the documentary digs deep into the psyche and environment of both the veterans and their offspring showing with impressive precision the substance that makes the artistes.
The Tari Mtetwa-produced and directed 70-minute-long documentary reveals how difficulties remain a part of the music industry and how persistence is critical to growth in the sector.
“Each generation has its own struggles,” says veteran afro-jazz musician Bob Nyabinde who is featured in the documentary.
Mtetwa’s documentary chronicles the journey that has been travelled by both the ‘old’ and ‘new’ artistes.
It features Mechanic Manyeruke and his son Guspy Warrior, Willom Tight and Gary Tight, Morgan and Tendai Dembo and the late Leonard Dembo’s manager Raphael Makwiramiti.
Prolific drummer Sam Mataure, the late guitar wizard and vocalist Andy Brown, Amara Brown, the late Safirio Madzikatire, popularly known as Mukadota and Elijah Madzikatire, John ‘Chibhodhoro’ Muyambo are also featured.
The production is an unfiltered look into the lives of the musicians and how they have ascended to become crowd pulling artistes.
This is a documentary that is not interested in showing the glamour, but the grit and sweat that is involved in the music industry.
Those that we ruthlessly and mercilessly judge are given an opportunity to present their story.
A majority of us when it comes to the consumption of art we are accustomed to just receiving the final product and we are never exposed to the battles of the creative process.
The documentary made over one-and-half years highlights the challenges found in the music business and how they have shaped the artistes.
The production is more than about hits produced and the personalities behind them, it shows the forces fuelling and moulding the musicians.
“He (Andy Brown) taught me many things as I was growing up because he did not want me to face the same challenges,” says Amara Brown.
And the Dembo brothers reveal how their mother was not eager for them to get into the music industry.
“Mom did not want us to get into the music industry because of the hardships they went through,” say the brothers.
The documentary engages with the roots of the artistes.
Mechanic Manyaruke highlights how music runs in the family.
Many a fan have failed to reconcile the fact that Mechanic is a gospel musician, the godfather of the genre while his son is a dancehall artiste producing music some will describe as lurid.
But Manyeruke explains the dynamism of music making it clear that he has no problems with the path his son has taken.
The gospel music supremo highlights that his father was also a musician, a good and revered performer, who sang traditional songs.
At well over 60 minutes, Mtetwa’s examination of the relationship between the artistes and their children might not be exhaustive, but it is definitely enlightening.
The production is comprehensive and shows that while we compare and pit these artistes against each other, the older generation is simply proud of its progeny.
Is there chemistry between the generations of musicians?
The answer is a big yes.
One just has to see Willom Tight and his son Gary.
“Kuti Gary Tight ndokuti Willom Tight kuti Willom Tight ndokuti Tight family,” father and son sing.
This production supported by the Zimbabwe Film and Television School of Southern Africa (ZIFTESSA) offers answers to many questions.
Enlightening and enriching in equal measure, the production made with a shoestring budget makes for compulsive viewing.
“I had to run around and sometimes use my little resources to ensure that the production saw the light of the day,” said Mtetwa.
“With adequate support and funding we can do much more in terms of productions.
“As a people we have many stories to tell through film but we are failing because of lack of resources.”
As the credits rolled signaling the end, I was richer in my understanding of some of the artistes doing business in our music industry.