10 Things You Didn’t Know About Daiton Somanje

What a tragic week for the Zimbabwean Music industry as they mourn one of the 90s legends Daiton Somanje who passed away two days ago at Parirenyatwa hospital. Daiton is said to have been suffering from meningitis and has been in bad health since last year. Although he had not enjoyed much success in his later solo career, Daiton did enjoy some early success with his younger brother Josphat.

Here are things you might not know about this 90s hit-maker.

1. Daiton was born in 1968 at a farm called Beatrice near Marondera where his parents worked as farm labourers.

2. He attended four primary schools and three secondary schools. He completed his secondary school at St Francis Chikwaka before enrolling at Harare Polytechnic for a diploma in electric Engineering.

3. He was the co-founder of Pengaudzoke Band along with his younger brother, Josphat Somanje in which they had success with songs like “Seiko Kuonda”, “Zvibate Pamhaka” and “Tsaona” before they split.

4. Daiton and Josphat split after a long time of disagreements and accusations of witchcraft. Daiton was also arguing with his eldest son because of his unfaithful ways, when he left his wife for another woman in Marondera.

5. After splitting with his brother, he tried a solo career which wasn’t successful. He released a sorrowful album which reflected his fading career and troubled family.

6. He released a track called “Somanje Musadaro” in which he was pleading his family to put their differences aside and work together. Last year he tried a reunion with Josphat when they a released an album called “Zvisinei Hazvo” but it seems the duo had already lost its fan base.

7. After a long time trying to make a comeback, Daiton became a fully devoted Christian and gave his life to God. It’s said that he was working on a gospel album.

8. In an interview last year, Daiton confirmed his illness saying his leg was making it difficult to tour which was a problem since he had a family to feed.

9. Daiton married when he was 15 and became a father when he was still a teenager. That was the start of his music career as he toured farms nearby performing with his brother and friends.

10. Pengaudzoke was the most popular band in Mashonaland East and they used to share the stage with bigger bands from Harare.