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Suluman Chimbetu

Entertainment Editor
Dendera musician Suluman Chimbetu turns 32 today and a massive bash has been set for the Book Café tonight to celebrate his life and music.Chimbetu is expected to team up with fellow musicians Alick Macheso, Oliver Mtukudzi, Jah Prayzah and a number of dancehall artistes for the show.

Dubbed “Sulu at 32” the gig is set to take fans through the life and career of one of the most successful young musicians in the country and a torch bearer in dendera music.

Speaking through his publicist Joe “Local” Nyamungoma, Sulu said he was happy his fans have been behind him over the past years and would be honoured to celebrate his birthday with his followers and fellow musicians.

“Last year we celebrated the birthday at a show that had been planned for something else but the brief celebration went well. That incident inspired us to plan a big thing to celebrate life,” said Nyamungoma.

“The day would not only be about Sulu. It will be our day as a band and it will also be our fans’ day. We thank God for taking us this far and we pray for many years on earth and in the industry.”

Sulu was born on May 27 in 1982 in Saruwe, Chegutu to Simon Chimbetu and Itai Dick and his father christened him Sulumani, a name that means goal-scorer. He grew up in Chegutu and Harare, attending Glen Norah 7 primary school, Haig Park Primary School, Nyahuni Secondary School and Ellis Robins High School.

He joined the Airforce of Zimbabwe in 2003 and worked for three years before taking up music full-time when his father died.

Sulu has so far recorded four albums namely “Ndomusiya Nani”, “Reverse Deal”, “Non-Stop” and “Syllabus”.  He is working on his fifth album set to be released this year. He has performed in many parts of the country and abroad in countries like Botswana, South Africa, Malawi, Zambia United Kingdom, Seychelles and Ghana.

In a statement last weekend, Sulu said he is happy about the music journey he has travelled so far.

“I want to thank my fans for their support and I invite them to come on Tuesday (today) and share the cake. They have been behind us over the years and we salute them,” said Sulu.

“I started pursuing music as a young boy without my father’s approval. I did a number of shows around Chegutu area before he knew I was a musician. It was not easy for me to convince him I would be a full-time musician but he later gave me the green light.”

His first public appearance was at a gala in Beitbridge when he joined his ailing father on stage in 2005 a few weeks before Simon died.

He briefly worked with his uncle Allan before they part ways and Sulu assumed leadership of Orchestra Dendera Kings.