Mechanic Manyeruke        

                                                                           By Pamenus Tuso

 

ONE cannot talk of pioneers of Zimbabwean gospel without mentioning the name Mechanic Manyeruke.

From way back during the colonial era, gospel music had been marginalized in Zimbabwe, but Manyeruke and a handful of artistes such as the late Jordan Chataika managed to prop-up the genre.

But who is the name popularly known as baba Mechanic Manyeruke?

Joseph Magundwane, Manyeruke was born in August 1942 at St Patrick’s Mission near Gweru in the Midlands province. He later changed his name to Mechanic to adopt a nickname he got from his elder brother. The name came from his love of playing around with all sorts of metallic junk.

Manyeruke was his uncle who looked after him following the death of his father. His officials name, thus became Mechanic Manyeruke. His father died when he was still very young and his elder brothers could not afford to pay for his school fees.

Baba Mechanic Manyeruke’s musical roots can be traced to his father who was a singer and popular dancer at traditional gatherings and festivals, specializing in Mhande dance songs.

Probably inspired by his father, Mechanic developed a passion for music at a tender age while staying at his village in Chiundura where he grow up and did most of his education.

Manyeruke would learn to play the banjo (home-made guitar) during school holidays. After failing to raise school fees following the death of his father, he went to look for a job in Harare, then Salisbury where he worked as a gardener.

Manyeruke later got a job an ice cream vendor  He also worked at a hotel as waiter before venturing into music.  His impeccable musical  journey started in 1968 when he joined the Salvation Army where his musical skills was horned.

Following his first performance in Dzivarasekwa Township, the Salvation Army divisional songster leader Jonah Matswetu drafted Manyeruke into his band, the Peace Makers in 1973. From then he never looked back.

According to the National Arts Council he started as a sole secular musician and recorded his first song Mwana Muparadzi (The Prodigal Son) in 1976 which was a flop because gospel music was not popular then.

Since then Manyeruke had been fighting for the recognition of gospel music without much success until 1984 when he formed the Puritans and re-recorded and released his 1970 song Chirema Mutembere, (A disabled in the church)

By then, his music was distinctively comprised of an electric guitar and a keyboard and was complimented by two melodious female vocals.

The single did well though not as satisfactory as the gospel musician had anticipated.

By then Mechanic had secured a job  as a general hand with the Anglo-American Corporation where he was eventually upgraded to a special waiter for top management.

In 1986 Manyeruke recorded “Zakeyo” which was a commercial success and hit the local music charts with a bang.

“Manyeruke’s 1986 album had haunting beauty melodies which are unforgettable,” wrote Craig Harris in the All Music Guide.  Since then Mechanic Manyeruke and the Puritans have released over 25 albums over 40 years.

Some of  his albums include Siyabonga Baba, Ndeyeiko Nyaya, Varombo Pamweya and Mwari Wazvose. Other albums also include Arimandiri Jesu, Makorokoto and Mabasa.

Apart from featuring locally on state run functions and festivals Manyeruke has also exported the gospel extravagance to several international destinations.

Although Manyeruke and his group have over the years changed members, he has managed to maintain his organic music style and beat throughout his career.

Mechanic‘s unique rhythm is appealing to both the young and old generations as well as Christians and non-Christian.

Manyeruke was married to the deceased Zvanakireni Matsvito with whom they were blessed with two children. Following the death of Matsvito he married Mattie Charachera Dzemwa whom he has three children. His son Emmanuel “Guspy Worrior” is  a popular Dancehall artist.

According to The Herald, Manyeruke is now into farming at his rural home of Chiundura in the Midlands Province.