HARARE - The son of sungura legend Leonard Dembo, Tendai is set to launch his debut solo album tomorrow at Private Lounge in the capital.
Tendai’s forthcoming seven-track project is entitled Kupa Kwashe and he will be assisted by seasoned marabi musician Kireni Zulu and the group Extra Kwazvose during the event.
He told the Daily News that the Diamond Studios-produced album was a true reflection of his maturity in the showbiz.
“I am confident with Kupa Kwashe, I feel that God was at work during the production of the album and I am convinced that the project is way much better than the first album Kutsika Matsimba,” he said.
Tendai has decided to go solo in his career because his brother Morgan, who is arguably one of the most talented upcoming vocalists in the country, is still on suspension due to personal problems.
“The band cannot stop because of one person, we have to move on. Morgan was suspended last year by family members and other concerned parties because of his excessive abuse of alcohol.
“There is a great need for us to follow in the footsteps of our late father Leonard who was a sober man, yet heavily talented in terms of music,” said Tendai adding that Morgan is still welcome in the Barura Express provided he becomes a changed-man.
“We did not shut him out completely, but we just want him to undergo a self-correction process, if he reforms he is free to re-join the group,” he said.
Currently, the younger Dembo sibling is running the Barura Express without a manager and sources close to the band ruled out Morgan’s chances of making a comeback to the group.
“Morgan and Tendai are differently gifted and they should complement each other for a better musical product, the former is vocally gifted while the latter is a talented guitarist.
“The two should work together but as the situation stands, chances of Morgan rejoining the group are very slim.
“We understand that Morgan has been shut out of the band and he is planning to assemble his own outfit but as of now we do not know the name of his band,” said the source.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Morgan were fruitless as his mobile phone was not reachable, he was purportedly travelling from Chiredzi to Harare by the time of going to press.