OBITUARY: Bhundu Boys founder Rise Kagona: Leader, Genius, Recluse
Rise Kagona was in his 20s when Bhundu boys released his composition “Hupenyu Hwangu” about 40 years ago (translated ‘My life’). Kagona was on lead vocals.
· Nehanda RadioThe reflections contemplated the day he would die and argued that “I live for pleasure. I brought pleasure into this world. If I am not there, there is no pleasure. Sing and dance at my funeral.”
That day was Saturday 14 September 2024. He was found dead in his room with his face facing downwards. The day before, he had hosted friends who helped him to prepare a meal after spending days in hospital with hypertension and a suspected infected kidney problem.
The friends got anxious and worried when the next day he was not answering his phone. He always slept with the door unlocked so gaining entry was not complicated. The Great Day he sang about since the late 1980s had finally arrived.
It was not until Monday afternoon that news of his death broke out on social media.
Kagona was also known to be reclusive. He was active on social media but mostly used private messages to dispute or correct sensational reporting.
A statement said: “I’m deeply saddened to confirm that Rise Kagona passed away, most likely on 14th September, at his home in Edinburgh.”
“Rise had a cough that wouldn’t go away for several months, and he also started noticing shortness of breath. These were warning signs of very high blood pressure and a damaged heart.
“He was in hospital for a week, and returned home on the 12th feeling a little better. However, worried that he hadn’t responded to us on Saturday, I visited, and found him dead, most likely by a sudden heart attack.”
“He will be missed by so so many people – his former Bhundu Boy band members Washington Kavhai, Kenny Chitsvatsva, Kuda Matimba, and Gordin “Camboko” Mapika, the many musicians here in the UK who had the joy of learning from him and performing with him, his large network of friends in the community here who helped him feel at home during his long stay here, and of course millions of people worldwide who saw or listened to Rise sing his songs with the Bhundu Boys and with musicians here. “
“Most of all, he’ll be missed by his family – his 3 kids, grandchildren, brother and sisters, and more. “
“It seems only fitting that Rise should go home now, to be buried by his family. We’ve set up a gofund.me link where you can donate if you like to, to help us with these costs.”
https://gofund.me/3cb78eb9
One either loved Rise or they didn’t, there was no middle ground.
Marshall Shonhayi, a leading music show stage director and author who was a fan of Bhundu boys almost persuaded Kagona to collaborate and record his memoirs.
This was a huge ask as Kagona earlier fell victim to malicious documentation in a documentary series called “The Bhundu Boys Story” which was so slanted and biased it convinced Kagona never to give another Zimbabwean journalist an interview again.
The editing left a lot to be desired as Kagona was only quoted in moments that cast him in negative light. Those who knew him well kept their counsel.
Shonhayi wrote: “Born in Malawi on May 17, 1958, and migrating to Zimbabwe with his family at just two years old, Rise Kagona would go on to shape one of Zimbabwe’s most beloved and celebrated bands. At the tender age of 22, Kagona formed a group initially named the Wild Dragons.
“With Zimbabwe’s Independence in 1980, they renamed themselves the Bhundu Boys, paying tribute to the freedom fighters—a move that would change their destiny forever.”
“During their glory years, the Bhundu Boys were often regarded as the finest band to emerge from Zimbabwe.”
“Despite their youth, they were immensely gifted. By the time their debut album was released in 1983, Kagona was just 25, while Biggie was 26.”
Kagona told a mutual friend: “When I formed Bhundu boys, it was myself, Shepherd Munyama (bass), Shakespeare Kangwena (rhythm guitar and later keyboards), Charles Nyauchi (drums). Kavhayi left to form Solidarity band with Paul Brickhill. Of course, I lay back as the boss.
“I don’t like showing off. I’m more interested in running my band & making the most of it while I am still alive.”
Shepherd Munyama replaced Mankaba. Kagona said: “Then Shepherd also passed away & Washie came back as a replacement. Shackie also came back and later passed away and was replaced by Kuda Matimba.
From Scotland, Doug Veitch, a long-time friend said: “I am very sad to say that I lost my dear friend Rise Kagona on Saturday 14th September. A wonderful musician I consider myself very lucky to have shared a stage with. He will be sorely missed far and wide. Founder, guitarist and vocalist with the Bhundu Boys, one of the finest live bands I ever saw.”
Clive Ford wrote: “I’ll never forget you and Gordon bringing the band into Sound Control Edinburgh just hours after they landed in the UK. They had no instruments and very little money, but they walked out of the shop with everything they needed. A hard-working band, they paid me back within three months.”
Sam Lawrence wrote: “I had the pleasure of recording Rise in Leeds, that was my first and clearest lesson in how it isn’t the microphone that sounds good/bad, it’s what you put in front of it.”
Biggie Tembo Marshall, the son of the late Lead singer, guitarist and spokesperson wrote: “Today, I’m filled with mixed emotions as I mourn the passing of Mr Rise Kagona, one of the founding members of the Bhundu Boys. While I celebrate his incredible contribution to Zimbabwean music, I’m also reminded of the complex history between him and my late father, Legendary Biggie Tembo. Their personal differences are well-documented, but I choose to honor Rise’s legacy while acknowledging the challenges they faced. My father’s passing left unanswered questions, and now Rise’s departure leaves me reflecting on what could have been.”
“I extend condolences to Rise’s family, friends, and fans. May his music continue to inspire generations, and may his story serve as a reminder of the power of forgiveness and reconciliation.”
Bhundu boys began their career by taking Zimbabwe by storm recording under Steve Roskilly at Shed Studios in Harare. A young Bothwell Nyamhondera did his apprenticeship observing Bhundu boys recording sessions.
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Wikipedia explains on the Shed Studios page: “To the studio’s disappointment, the band wanted to be released from their second three year contract as they wanted to jump ship to Warner Bros. A deal was made between the Band and Shed Studios where all future royalty income, from existing recordings, would accrue solely to the studio in return from their contractual release.”
They fell into the gleeful hands of Gordon Muir with mixed fortunes. They overcame modest beginnings in England to take the world by storm before performing at Wembley stadium for 3 days curtain raising for Madonna in front of 240,000 people in 3 days.
Charismatic Biggie Tembo fronted Bhundu boys in its most successful years. Like a dynasty type European football team, they trained with intensity. Playing became second nature. It was collection of 5 freaks of nature.
Tembo’s voice was pitch perfect and persuasive. He could still go a gear up with his boundless stage enthusiasm. The band matched his enthusiasm bar by bar. He was a prolific songwriter.
He wrote songs like “Hatisi tose na Chipo,” “Wafungeiko,” “Babamunini Francis” and “Simbimbino,” to mention just a few. He had engaging stories between songs, eloquent in English and Shona.
Reports are conflicting but it seems Tembo either quit the band or was fired, depending on whom you believe in Harare before a change of heart which the band and management didn’t accept.
The manager would later completely fail to account for £95,000 that belonged to the band which he had insisted they invest in a property in England, which he later claimed, was sold to pay off the band’s debts.
Was Bhundu boys a one-man band? It depends on who you ask. To the majority it seemed to have become ‘Biggie Tembo and the Bhundu boys.’ His dynamic stage personality suited the rest of the band.
David Mankaba, the bassist, complimented Biggies’ dance routines, both with their instruments in hand, neither missing a note, chord, or lyric. There are some who remain convinced the death of David Mankaba to AIDS in 1991 was arguably an equally big blow to Bhundu boys as the departure of Biggie Tembo, in some respects.
He was an admired bassist rivaling Ilanga’s equally talented bassist Don Gumbo. All this pales into insignificance when considering that Mankaba, upon realizing he was dying of the next epidemic, opted to come out publicly on his condition to conscientise others on the ailment.
There are some things that are more important than music. This was it. Band leader Rise Kagona would later lament how despite all their work, his colleagues came to be remembered simply for dying of AIDS.
Such was the stigma associated with the illness. Especially when countless Zimbabweans would later lose their lives to HIV and AIDS in the 2 decades from 1990 to 2010.
In 1991 when Mankaba died it was revealed 40% of the population were positive. Some reports say Shackie Kangwena and Shepherd Munyama also died of AIDS, after Mankaba.
The prevailing official attitude, in the country, was one of denial of the existence of this crisis, even when Mbudzi cemetery replaced Warren Hills as the new major cemetery.
Mbudzi itself filled up in record time. It remains an aghast reminder of the scary times in which so many lives were lost in such a short space of time.
Eminent Zimbabweans became steadily determined, in life and death, to avoid the stigma that surrounded some of the Bhundu boys. Some profound compositions from the era still haunt some listeners as composers or vocalists confronted their impending mortality somberly.
Mankaba’s composition, on which he sung lead vocals, was “Bye Bye Stembi.”
Keyboardist Shackie Kangwena, who was rhythm guitarist before and after Biggie Tembo, would sing lead on “My Foolish Heart.” The song itself was based on an old English poem. It was a sober lament of regretting “My foolish heart” for the singer’s sad predicament.
Kangwena had a different approach to music from Tembo. His voice was more and controlled. There was only ever one Biggie Tembo. But most fans in Asia, Australia and the Americas only knew the band name. The depleted band toured until at least the year 2000. Back home Biggie Tembo was irreplaceable.
The loss of Mankaba and Mankaba contributed to a loss in some of the original sound while Biggie Tembo’s loss robbed the bad of Zimbabwe’s liveliest voice and personality.
If anybody was underrated, in Bhundu boys, it has to be drummer Kenny Chitsvatsva. Some reports in the aftermath of Kagona’s death claimed Kagona was the last surviving member of the band. Not true. Kenny Chitsvatsva is alive. The drummer provided some amazing variety. He was also a handy backing vocalist.
Chitsvatsva was very active and inspirational in his Highfields community in Harare. He inspired a whole generation of musicians and was known for his generosity with time and kind gestures.
Bands like Mafriq and a whole new generation of musicians followed in his footsteps. His brother’s son Rockford ‘Roki’ Josephat made his name at the turn of the millenium. No one can miss the striking resemblance between father and son.
Washington Kavhayi joined at the beginning, left and then returned to replace Mankaba with a spell on Thomas Mapfumo’s books. Kuda Henry Matimba joined Bhundu boys after the deaths of Mankaba, Munyama and Kangwena.
Eventually the band itself disappeared. Its owner and creator was widely accepted to be Rise Kagona.
Kagona was born in Malawi. He came to Zimbabwe as an infant and grew up in Mufakose suburb. He formed the band with friends from Mukonde and Mutondo streets.
Kagona had a burning desire to be a musician while growing up in the midst of poverty in Mufakose before Zimbabwe’s independence. He grew up in a conservative home and was the youngest member of the band he created. The brand later re-branded seemingly with input from the others.
Kagona had several paths before him. He could easily have been a talented footballer like Moses Chunga, Stanley Ndunduma, Japhet Mparutsa, Stanford Stix Mutiza and Joel Shambo, his peers, some of whom came from the same neighborhood. He opted instead to be a musician.
The first recording of Bhundu boys I came across was “Hatisi Tose” written by and featuring Biggie on lead vocals. It demonstrated the stunning prowess of Biggie Tembo as a performer.
But the truth is Rise Kagona’s lead guitar lines introducing the song made an equally strong case for one of Zimbabwe, and in fact, the world’s best lead guitarists. Even today those lines are still impressive and arresting.
In the 1980s Eric Clapton was considered the best guitarist in the world. Clapton and Elvis Costello were impressed by Kagona’s lead guitar.
A claim has been made Bhundu boys contributed to world music immensely with their African guitar and Jit music, elements which may have been fused into Western music.
Biggie Tembo might have been amazing on his own but the band raised his standards even more. The whole group suffered without each other and not one of the members ever rose to the same amazing standards without the others.