Paul Makureya: Gone but not forgotten
MANICALAND Province has a good history of producing some of the most gifted artistes in Zimbabwe.
Mutare has produced great musicians who include Hosiah Chipanga, Sam Mataure, Frontline Kids, Runn Family, Assegai Crew, Agartha Murudzwa, Blessing Shumba, Memo Chinamasa, Trymore Bande, Joseph Makureya, the late Kenneth Chigodora, the late Fortune Mparutsa and the late Paul Phiri, among many others.
They provided soundtracks to life in the city. Sadly, it appears all love and respect was lost when they died.
Such is the case for Paul Makureya, one great and fine musician to ever emerge from Mutare.
Paul was an all rounder who excelled above most of his peers. He was a self taught instrumentalist who played the drums, bass guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, saxophone and marimba.
Apart from this, Paul was also a great vocalist, composer and a lyricist who also doubled as a sound engineer and a producer at a local community studio in Sakubva.
Paul was invitated to play the lead guitar for the song ‘Vanhu Vatema’ by Thomas Mapfumo at Mutare Queens Hall in 1998.
He did so without any challenges. Paul was also a good mentor and talent scout.
One of the prominent products of Paul is his own brother, Joseph “Imi woyee” Makureya, who is the founder and band leader of a jazz outfit, Sunrise Band, which is based in Mutare.
Paul was born on May 5, 1967 in Mutare and as he was growing up, it is said he showed great interests in music at a tender age. This was evidenced by his great passion of making his own home made music instruments such as guitars and drum kits which he would play in the backyard of his parent’s Sakubva house.
Together with Elton and David Majera, Paul started his music journey by forming the Native Band in the 1980s.
When he was the band leader, Paul recorded songs such as ‘Shinga Shinga’ and ‘Ndini Ndega Ndakamusarudza’.
As a lead guitarist, Paul later joined Ekhaya Band led by the Fanyana Dube which had other great musicians such as Sam Mataure, Wiseman Gwata and Jimmy Makureya.
After touring Zimbabwe and other countries in Southern Africa with Ekhaya Band, Paul decided to call it quits and was instrumental in the formation of Assegai Crew of the ‘Kanyama Karipi’ fame which was fronted by the late Stobart Chidikano.
As a talented guitarist and composer during his stint with the Assegai Crew, Paul served as a mentor to youngsters within the band due to his great skills in composing songs and playing musical instruments.
After a short stint with Assegai Crew, Paul formed Band AHA in the mid-90s with the late veteran educationist, Kenneth Saruchera, who was also the sponsor-cum promoter of the band.
Band AHA was comprised of instrumentalists such as the late Ronald Mushaba (rhythm guitar and drums), the late Freddy Pegara (drums), Joseph Makureya (bass guitar), the late Paul Makureya (lead guitar), Robbert Chagora (keyboard) Totichii Makureya and Thomas Pakurege (backing vocalists).
Band AHA were regular performers at a number of local entertainment joints such as Cannibal Inn, Nyamanhindi Hotel, Leopard Rock Hotel, Maoresa Nightclub, Little Swallow, Old Bar, Nyausunzi Bar, Sakubva Beit Hall, Mutare Queens Hall and the Mangenje Brothers’ open space in Sakubva where they would give youngsters an opportunity to sing, dance and showcase their talents.
Throughout his leadership of Band AHA, Paul did not record any songs, but the band would churn out some of its own songs during live shows.
The band would also perform songs by other great local and international artistes.
Band AHA also became popular and shared the stage with Hosiah Chipanga during Heroes and Independence days celebrations at Sakubva Stadium.
During his last days, Paul was an elder in a church. He was also the music mentor and director for the church choir.
On June 27, 2013, a dark cloud fell over Manicaland as Paul Makureya breathed his last at the age of 54.
Preparations for a commemoration show to honour and celebrate Paul Makureya’s life are being made and a date will be announced in due course.