The Most Explosive Musical Combinations in Zim Part 1.

Good music takes good teamwork to make. There is a deeper understanding that is required between two or more people in order to create some timeless music. Zim has been blessed with a lot of explosive combinations over the years and today will be sharing with you some of those combinations which always bring a smile to my face, hopefully they also bring joy to your ears

Will not be able to mention all the combination but will be sharing those I have personally listened to and enjoyed.

Winky D & Oskid

When Winky D met up with Oskido he was already an icon, he had proven himself already working with producers such as Mockery, Layaan, Bobo...etc. However it is when he teamed up with Oskid in 2015 to release Gafa Life Kickstape that he solidified his position as the best dancehall artist in Zim and made his throne permanent. Oskid and Winky D defined a new era of dancehall and no-one else other than themselves could stop their dominance. When the two entered into a battle the music suffered and both of their stakes started dropping, fortunately they resolved their differences and are back to making music together and it seems its hit after hit as usual. Their latest work Mugarden has broken the record to being the quickest song to reach both one and two million views, showcasing the strength of their collaboration.

Thomas Mapfumo & Jonah Sithole

This is my favorite of all the combinations. Mukanya to me is the best musician to ever come out of Zim and he would have not been so without Jonah Sithole who is also my best guitarist of all time. These two despite some of their differences were an amazing combination, they brought the best out of each other which is what combinations are all about. They have made countless classics together which still sound superb to this day, more than 20 years since they were made. Mukanya has worked with a ridiculously talented cast of band members over his career, the list can make any artist drool with envy but among all I feel his understanding with Jonah Sithole was at the heart of it all. Tracks such as Gwindingwi Rineshumba, Guruve, Moyo Wangu, Ndanzwa Ngoma Kurira just to mention a few can play as the example to the perfect blend of Jonah's excellent work on the lead guitar and Mukanya vocals.



Nicholas Zakaria and Alick Macheso
Being a 90's kid only got to know Macheso as a solo artist, knew of Madzibaba but was too young to comprehend much. My love for local music and utmost adoration of Alick Macheso has led me to research his history (you know an artist has won you over when you start looking for their history to fully understand how they became so awesome) and that led me to his time as part of the Khiama Boys. Ohhhhh my the harmonies between Madzibaba and Macheso were superb, their vocals complemented each other superbly. It however did not end there, the combination also extended to how Macheso extra superb bass complemented with Madzibaba's lead. Alick Macheso forever changed Sungura music industry with his exceptional work on the bass guitar, and it all started when he was with the Khiama Boys.



Alick Macheso, Lucky Mumiriki, Innocent Mjintu, Noel Nyazanda & Obert Gomba.
This is quite ridiculous as I have named the whole Ochestra Mberikwazo band but you cannot blame me because the music these guys blessed us with from 1998 to around 2005 was so good that they had the whole nation eating from their palms. I could not leave out anyone, the combination these 5 guys had was just heavenly, they filled up venues in every area of the country they went to no-matter how remote, urban or rural the place was, an Alick Macheso & Orchestra Mberikwazvo poster meant a full house. Attending of their shows became the very definition of a good night out for years, even churches would imitate their guitar progression during praise sessions. You cannot have such an impact without having some deeper connection and understanding between the band members. The band however entered into a phase of problems which led to Innocent Mjintu, Noel Nyazanda & Obert Gomba leaving the group, Lucky Mumiriki then unfortunately suffered a stroke some years later leaving only Macheso from the whole golden lineup. Macheso's music suffered a lot during those years, he was also involved in marital scandals that worsened the situation, his music got so bad that some were saying the Legend should now retire. However after over a decade of poor music he is getting back to top form, he is making amends with band member who have left, on his last album Noel Nyazanda returned and that livened up the sound. Rumours are saying drummer Obert Gomba will be back soon and will feature on the next project, only Innocent Mjintu remains, he may be back who knows. Whether the band regains its touch remains to be seen but judging from the last album its promising.  These guys changed sungura to the extend that more than 75%  of al the new sungura artists are borrowing from their arrangements.

Mac Dee & Trevor Dongo

Trevor Dongo for many years was regarded as the King Of RnB and no-one could dispute that given the string of classic love tracks that he was tuning out. Digging deeper into his classic jams you will hear the Eternity tag in nearly of of the tracks, Mac Dee was the man behind those productions. The combination between these two went deeper than Trevor being part of MacDee's Eternity Label. They understood each other musically which is why whenever they collaborate, they always deliver. Their biggest track to date was Ndashamisika which was on the superb First Verse album in 2012, the track went on to being voted Song of the year that year. They have not managed to create a more successful track since then but they went on and still continue to make some super lovely jams together.

Mac Dee & King Shaddy

This is a combination I wish should work together more than they do. King Shaddy and Mac Dee have an understanding that leads to some unique hit jams, when these two meet up you will get a tracks which only the two of them can make. Tracks such as Tsoka yaDanmore, Bhero, Svosvai, Wadiwa Mai Huni have been results of the two teaming up. Mac Dee besides being the one behind the production of these tracks also managed to deliver some superb choruses for King Shaddy tracks, their vocals complement each other perfectly. Again I do not know why these two do not team up more, it beats me.

Those are the combinations for today, I know there are many others so go into the comments section and comment with other superb creative duos and will definitely include them into the next episode of the series.

Proud_Zimbo