Victor Kunonga
A Major New Star in the Zimbabwean Music Pantheon
“I love making music – it is an interesting art form to draw and paint my ideas as well as conveying the message through music”.
Fridays at Harare’s famed Mannenberg jazz venue have, over the past year, belonged to Victor Kunonga and his band ‘Peace’. Hundreds pack the venue every week; they sing along, dance and sway to his tunes, mesmerised. As the evening builds up, the crowd presses to the stage. Kunonga is a phenomena; he has become so popular that audiences everywhere are talking of a major new star emerging, while many whisper that the heir to the Tuku legend is ‘in town’.
Victor himself is far too humble to say such things and deeply respects the older generation of music stars in Zimbabwe.
Kunonga has what one calls ‘stage presence’, always in control, subtly under-stated and gentle. His music, characteristically Zimbabwean afrobeat, derives from many influences, strains of Tuku and Thomas Mapfumo can be heard, perhaps legendary Louis Mhlanga, but it is the legacy of the great Zimbabwean guitar bands of the 1980s that really shine through his music – Devera Ngwena, Bhundu Boys, Four Brothers, Jonah Sithole and the Deep Horizon. The interplay of guitars soar, while the lyrics and backing vocals tell real stories.
In 2009 Kunonga extended his touring program with a major concert at Johannesburg’s Bassline Jazz Club alongside jazz master Steve Dyer and his son Bokani, Tuku, and outstanding New York based jazz saxophonist Max Wild (performing with Sam Mtukudzi). After a thrilling performance, his debut in South Africa, and superb audience response, he was invited back to Johannesburg 3 months later to open for the legendary XALAM 2 (Senegal) at their South African debut and ETRAN FINATAWA (Niger) at this year’s Arts Alive ‘African Connections’ concert at Bassline. Rapidly gaining a reputation in South Africa, Kunonga has now been invited to perform in Maputo, Namibia, Malawi and Swaziland.
Kunonga, the masterful story-teller and lyricist will soon launch his latest album ‘Hatinete’ (taken from the song of the same name) which says ‘we will persevere; the more you suppress us, the stronger we will emerge’. Kunonga’s lyrics reflect the voices of the voiceless in contemporary Zimbabwe, emerging from crisis and social inequity. His songs and their popularity derive from a profound sense of dignity and social awareness; songs that address and confront issues of poverty, dispossession, and the rights and needs of ordinary people.
Kunonga has previously recorded two CD’s, Such is life-Ndanyengetedzwa, a six-track album and most recently UYO. Such is Life launched Victor as one of the most exciting new talents in the music industry, receiving critical acclaim and success in the local charts. Three of the videos have received regular airplay on Channel O.
After two years of playing live across the country, Victor rose to the challenge set by the critics and his growing fan base by returning with a the powerful UYO in 2006.
UYO firmly established Victor as a masterful social commentator. Described as “a gem” (Standard newspaper); “…a tremendous effort” (Zim Independent) “…a fantastic piece” (Financial Gazette) and … “mind blowing” (The Herald), the nine track CD is lyrically rich. Songs such as Mandirasa – the innocent voice of a baby abandoned by his mother in a forest, Munyamai – asking the question why, despite all my efforts am I so unlucky, Nzara, a touching song which reaches out to millions who are starving, have established Victor as a musician of note in Zimbabwe.
With growing critical acclaim and top ten status, the CD received an industry award, when Victor won the Best Traditional Contemporary Group/Artiste award from the Zimbabwe Music Awards. But it’s not about awards or topping the charts it’s about having the opportunity to compose and play his music from a place ‘deep within’ that wins the hearts of the people who hear it, Victor says.
It started…
Coming from the dusty walkways of Hwedza rural settlement, Victor is the embodiment of the new generation of the Zimbabwean man.
Born on 25 October 1974 in Shurugwi, Victor grew up in Bulawayo.
The traditional rhythms of the African drum laid the latent roots in Victor for the music he was to create in future; the influence of this music can still be felt in his own compositions and performances.
The musician in Victor started emerging at school. Victor, a natural and gifted artist also pursued the other artistic disciplines, acting, painting, drawing and playing and captaining the Marimba Band at Northlea High School in Bulawayo. He graduated from the Polytechnic with a diploma in Commercial Design and Graphics.
Getting Started …
In 1994, his dream of enrolling with Bulawayo College of Music was shattered when he was told he needed an instrument to be accepted. He moved to Harare to work in graphic design.
“I still yearned to make music so I started writing songs in 1997, which I kept and constantly polished up as I prepared for my first album”. In the early half of 2001 Victor started attending music workshops where he learned guitar.
The message …
The music that Victor creates conveys universal messages: child, marital abuse, hunger and poverty and the need for peace, sung in both chiShona and siNdebele. He readily acknowledges drawing his inspiration from Zimbabwean masters namely Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, Louis Mhlanga, Chiwoniso Maraire and traditional rhythms.
Victor was appointed Ambassador against Poverty in Southern Africa (GCAP). This role has since 2006 seen him coordinating and performing at the Stand Up Against Poverty concerts in Harare oldest townships, Mbare, Chitungwiza and Mabvuku, composing the theme songs. He has done similar work for Action Aid composing a hunger jingle/song, UNDP- sponsors of the National Aids Council, Action Pals a youth oriented magazine, he is also a fundraising committee member of the Football Against Aids in Zimbabwe.
Victor’s personal values are “Home-grown, Legacy, Passion, Original and Art”. He lives by his values by promoting home-grown art forms and positive social commentary through creation of original music. He will instil passion in all that he does, especially in the expression of his art to leave a legacy of hope in the lives and hearts of all that hear him.
Contact Details:
*Costa Shinya
Tel: + 263 13 44557, 013 41007-9
E-mail: info@zimarts.co.zw *
Victor Kunonga
Tel: + 263 4 369748.
Cell: + 263 91 2 301 431, 0912 436 370
E-mail: kunonga@gmail.com, vkunonga@yahoo.com
*Pamberi Trust
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