TONGAI MOYO TOOK ME PLACES - SOMA
SOMANDLA Ndebele says his late friend and sungura giant Tongai Moyo was adventurous and peace-loving.
The Denda Brothers leader made the revelation as the showbiz industry commemorated the ninth anniversary of Dhewa’s death last week.
Dhewa died on October 15, 2011 after battling cancer.
Ever since his death, October 15 has become an important day on the national showbiz calendar.
And Soma being the late singer’s best friend, shared with H-Metro some of the things they used to do together.
“Tongai enjoyed travelling and visiting tourist resorts when we were free.
“At times we would perform in Kariba, Victoria Falls or the Eastern Highlands, but we had no time to see nature.
“So we devised a way for us to be able to see or visit some of these resorts.
“We would travel back to these places when we were free so that we were also acquainted about the country’s tourist resorts.
“At some point we would use one car or two cars as we also wanted to have fun.
“Tongai took me to places that I never imagined that I would visit on my own.
“In fact, he taught me to appreciate tourist attractions,” he said. Soma said Dhewa was also a person who had his roots at heart. “Dhewa would visit his rural home every Tuesday and that made him a favourite with his mother a Chihera.
“At times I would take him to my rural home as well and we had become more than friends.
“Dhewa would perform all rural chores expected of men and
humility took him far.
“Of course, on stage he appeared different, but in real life Dhewa was a humble person who believed in hard work.
“He smiled all the time, but could be strict with his family or band members,”he said.
Asked how he handled Dhewa when he was down, Soma said: “I entered the music industry before Tongai, but I had learnt a lot about dealing with the media.
“Tongai would break down when the media ran stories he thought attacked his person.
“He would drive to Harare just to ask for my opinion, but I later advised him to accept criticism and that’s how he managed.
“The moment that I felt for him most was when his wife died and he felt the media yakamupinda hard.
“He was inconsolable and I later gave him the strength that he needed,” he said.
Soma said he was, however, worried by the bickering between Dhewa’s sons: Obert Tongai Junior and Peter.
“I have been following that issue, but I don’t think it’s what Dhewa wished for.
“As a father figure, I will take responsibility and whip them in line. “Peter must stamp his authority, while Obert must know his position.
“At the end of the day, what we want is unity and not infighting. “If one of them wants to rise on disses, only time will tell, but Dhewa loved his children equally.”
Soma said he has since made great strides in integrating his family with Dhewa’s.