By Tatenda Gapa

THE Urban Grooves genre was a hurricane that swept up everything in its path.
It flourished; each release cemented its dominance, but like a hurricane whose force is talked about when it is gone, so has become the Urban Grooves genre.
Birthed in 1999 with the advent of 100 percent local content policy that was implemented by the national broadcaster ZBC, the genre unleashed hitherto unknown talent.
It was a type of music more popular with young artistes.
On the musical scene came the talented Conrad Nduna who made a mark with the hit-track ‘Kuenda Mberi’, he unfortunately passed on in 2009.
The other innovative and highly creative artistes included David Chifunyise, Betty Makaya, Innocent Utsiwegota, Ngoni Kambarami, Nox, Decibel, the twins Roy and Royce, Rockford Josphats popularly known as Roki, the hip-hop outfit Major Players, Shame and Nathan and ExQ.
This crop of young artistes drew inspiration from the likes of Willom Tight, Mathew ‘Mateo’ Kaunda and Patience Musa.
For a decade they ruled.
And then they slumped.
It seems the artistes went into a slumber, they dropped the ball and some vanished into thin air.
It became hard to find these guys and it became harder when Zim-dancehall came onto the scene becoming the much preferred local genre.
But the Urban Grooves genre will not be easily eclipsed if current developments are anything to go by.
The genre is mutating to Muringa.
This according to proponents of the genre will be the new name, which is derived from the popular Moringa tree that is said to have various medicinal purposes.
Will this transformation awaken and bring to the fore some of the forgotten urban groovers?
Will a name change infuse life into this genre that at one point had everyone talking?
Is it a fresh start or the last kick of a dying horse?
What has changed and will what happened to Urban Grooves not happen to Muringa?
Although the genre is said to be ‘dead’ it is not a fair representation as the likes of Trevor Dongo have managed to remain not just afloat, but popular churning out hit-after-hit.
Dongo is among the country’s premier entertainers.
Mafriq vocalist Lovedale ‘DJ Discord’ Makalanga says that the urban grooves genre is not dead, but has evolved and taken a new form.
“As a pioneer of this genre, I believe this music is not dead, but has just taken a new twist giving birth to a variety of genres,” he said.
“Even Zim-dancehall is actually a buy-product of urban grooves.
“That’s how the musical landscape is, it consistently evolves.”
Makalanga says that the evolved genre will have a distinct sound and will not be like the previous one that was full of imitation of Western genres.
He said the adaptation of Muringa music is a step forward in the journey to bring originality to local music.
“Urban grooves was largely an imitation of Western genres, but if you listen to songs we did as Mafriq, for instance ‘Ndokuudza Sei’ and ‘Chizevezeve’, you can tell that our sound was pretty much distinct from the urban grooves bandwagon,” said Makalanga
“Muringa music comes at a time there has been raging debate with regard to the failure of Zimbabwean music on the international arena as shown at the recent MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) which exposed the struggle Zimbabwean musicians have with regard to receiving honours on the continental stage Mafriq Music Factory is in the business of making music which defines Zimbabwe.”
The new genre will be ushered in by a festival organised by the Mafriq Music Factory scheduled for Sunday 27.
The Muringa Music Festival will feature artistes that include Roki, Ammara Brown, Mafriq, Nesto, Danger, Deejay Smylie, Blaqsyd and Fyerstarter.