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It was pomp and fanfare at Jazz 105 on Wednesday as Diamond Musica launched their new album “Amai”. Harare socialite Tendai Mahwindo also celebrated her 37th birthday

Entertainment Reporter
Top rhumba Diamond Musica launched their album “Amai” in style on Wednesday at Jazz 105.
The group proved rhumba music was still alive with an amazing performance that also saw Harare’s socialite Tendai Mahwindo celebrating her 37th birthday.
Fronted by the charismatic Pitshou Lumiere, the 15-member band including two raunchy dancers had the crowd on its feet throughout the show.

And when Orchestra Dendera Kings frontman Suluman Chimbetu joined the group on stage, the crowd went wild. The group is on a comeback trail having reunited with seasoned producer and lead guitarist Shaka Zulu early this year. Shaka Zulu displayed his mastery of the guitar and thrilled the fans with some sing along tunes.

The first copy of the album was sold for US$80. There are five songs in Shona and three in KiSwahili sung to reconnect with their origins. All songs on the eight-track album deal with social issues including love, relationships and social cohesion.

Rhumba music took Zimbabwe by storm during the 1990s with a number of artistes from the DRC coming to perform in Harare.
Kanda Bongo Man, Pepe Kalle, Papa Wemba, General Defao, Extra Musica, Werrason and Koffi Olomide were some of the big names in rhumba that performed in Harare.There were few other Zimbabwean rhumba groups that emerged including BV Labien which has stood the test of time.

So when Diamond Musica came to Zimbabwe they were no strangers as there was already a huge following of rhumba music.
However, with the passage of time and change in music tastes, the genre has been on a downward trend due to other several factors including the rise of genres such as South African kwaito/house, Nigerian pop as well as dancehall. Already, Diamond Musica faces an uphill task to try and lure some of their fans who had shifted from rhumba to kwaito or dancehall. But according to Pitshou, it was only a matter of time before fans start appreciating rhumba again.

Pitshou said the Shona songs would make their Zimbabwean fans appreciate Diamond Musica’s music since most people think rhumba was exclusively about immorality and raunchy dances.

Diamond Musica’s last album was released in 2005 and it features popular hits such as “Miniskirt”, “Dis is Good”, “Amaule” and “Sinamakosa Remix” among others.

Guests who attended the album launch included musicians Dino Mudondo, Progress Chipfumo, Diana Samkange, Judd Mupfurutsa, Madiz as well as music promoters Josh Hozheri, Chamu Chiwanza and Charles Mukuze.