Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About John Chibadura

John Chibadura was one of the best sungura and reggae artist in Zimbabwe. He was popularly known as “Mr Chitungwiza” for being the first musician to own a house in Chitungwiza at a time when the suburb was sprawling and when he was basking in glory. His music genre was a blend of sungura, jit, rhumba and reggae.

Here are some of the things you might not know about the late legend John Chibadura below.

1. Chibadura was born John Nyamukokoko on 17 February 1957.

2. He lost his mother when he was five, he never had a place which he called his permanent home. It is said that he usually relocated from one relative’s household to another as no one was able to take fully responsibility of him.

3. Chibadura was not able to finish school and he was thus forced seek employment. He was first employed as a shepherd in Darwendable Farming area, where he hailed from. From being a shepherd, he became a driver at a certain farm, driving the tractor.

4. He was then employed as a lorry driver and it was during this period in which he began to learn how to play an electric guitar. His ability to play the guitar earned him the nickname ‘Chibadura’ meaning the man who can do the best on the guitar.

5. In February 1980, Chibadura relocated from Darwendale to Salisbury (present day Harare) in company of his friend Shepherd Chinyani. During this time, Chibadura was known as Enock Chimukoko.

6. Chibadura launched his musical career in Harare together with Chinyani who became part of a band known as The Holy Brothers.

^7. Chikupo however left his band and Chibadura together with Chinyani teamed with Ronnie Gatakata, Bata Sintirawo popularly known as Manyowa and they started performing in Mutoko at a certain hotel.They were identified as a band, surprisingly the band was still yet to acquire a name. This anonymous band relocated to Domboshawa after they were being continuously ill-treated by the owner of the hotel at Mutoko, a place which had become their performing base.

8. In 1983 when Chibadura decided to try his luck in music when he was inspired by some of the then well-established artists who were performing in the local beer halls which Chibadura frequently visited. It was also reported that, it was in 1985 when Chibudara left The Sungura Boys to form the Tembo Brothers.

9. Chibadura and his band, the Tembo Brothers managed to gain recognition internationally. The band toured the United Kingdom twice and in 1988 band was invited to be a guest on Andy Kershaw’s Radio 1 show.

10. Chibadura died of an undisclosed ailment in 1999 but left an enduring legacy. After his death, the Tembo Brothers managed to record three albums being led by Roderick Chomudhara.