Tobias Areketa
| Tobias Areketa | |
|---|---|
| Born | Tobias Areketa |
| Died | September 11, 1990 |
| Occupation |
|
| Known for | Being A Musician |
| Children | Bybit Areketa (daughter) |
| Relatives | Joshua Areketa (brother) |
Tobias Areketa was a Zimbabwean musician who is well known for his song Baba na Mai. Areketa also worked with the likes of Mukadota, Thomas Mapfumo and toured Europe. He died on September 11 1990 aged 30.
Background
Tobias Areketa had a daughter Bybit Areketa who is also a musician. He also had a brother Joshua Areketa who was also a musician.
Career
He is believed to have realised his music talent after joining a group called Mufakose Marimba Band which used to perform at Rutendo Hall in Highfield while he was still attending the Highfield Community School. Through his outstanding performance with the group, his elder brother, Joshua, who by then was already a musician, took him to join the Fantasy Band, which was based in Kwekwe. Fantasy was comprised of Joshua himself, Anisto Saveto, George Chidziva and Wiseman Gwata. Susan Mapfumo also joined the group and it released hits such as Ndiyaniko akaunza mari? and Makeyi.
However, in an unfortunate incident in 1979, Tobias spent almost a year in hospital nursing wounds he sustained from a horrific accident in which he sustained a serious leg injury. While in hospital, he composed the song Trouble, which he later recorded after the group was renamed Brave Sons and was being led by Safirio Madzikatire. The song became an instant hit and won the silver disc medal.
In 1980, Tobias left the Brave Sons and joined Thomas Mapfumo’s Blacks Unlimited. He toured various countries in the region with the Blacks Unlimited before they went on a tour of Europe. While in England, they recorded one of Mapfumo’s all-time reggae hits, Mugarandega, on which Tobias did the English lyrics.
When he returned from the European tour, Tobias formed his own band, Shazi, which means friends. His first single with the group was the chart topper, Baba naAmai. He also released other singles such as Ndazvipira, Samaita, Hauzoswela and an album called Mavambo.[1]
Discography
Albums
- Mavambo
Singles
- Ndazvipira
- Samaita
- Hauzoswela
- Uya Iwe
- Murume Wangu
References
- ↑ Zivisai Chagaka, Tobias Areketa: The Tribute, Financial Gazette, published: May 12, 2011, retrieved: September 14, 2016
