Mukoma Ketai
Mukoma Ketai born Ketai Muchawaya was a Zimbabwean musician and leader of the group Simba Brothers. Mukoma Ketai is well known for his hit single Dai Uriwe. He was a founding member of Kasongo Band which consisted of talented musicians such as Marko Sibanda and Knowledge Kunenyati. Mukoma Ketai died in 1999.
Background
Muchawaya had four wives. His son Itai Muchawaya whom he had with his wife Jane Dinhira is also a musician. He had four children with Jane. Muchawaya got the name Mukoma Ketai from the days when he was fighting in Zimbabwe's liberation struggle.[1]
Liberation War Credentials
Mukoma Ketai was trained in Tanzania and that’s why most of his songs were done Swahili. He was the one who popularised Kanindo after being exposed to the genre when he was in the East African country training as a soldier.
Career
Ketai was a founding member of the Kasongo Band.[2] The band consisted of former liberation war fighters like Rex Moto Moto, Marko Sibanda, Chenjerai Musere among others. Kasongo Band was born out of the ZANLA People’s Choir.
In 1980 with Gallo Records, Kasongo Band managed to record songs such as Mapambani Makali, Sisi Mwakuu, Kuongozi Wasekela, Asante Sana, Ndiwo Baba Mugabe and Chitepo.
Years later, Knowledge Kunenyati who was the band's doorman took the microphone and became a vocalist to Mukoma Ketai. The band released an album Kuguta Kushanda which was recorded in 1983. In 1989, due to misunderstandings over royalties, Muchawaya left Kasongo to found his own group the Simba Brothers.[3]
Death
He died on 30 July 1999.[4]
