John "Chibadura" Nyamukokoko (1957-1999) was born in Guruve, Zimbabwe. His father and mother were itinerant farm labourers from Mozambique. In 1962, at the tender age of 5, John lost his mother and his father re-married a woman who was tough on John. Because he had a hard time with his step-mother, John was eventually forced to go to Centenary to live on a farm with his grandfather who was a talented mbira player. Unfortunately his grandfather also died 3 years later. From then on, John continued to live a nomadic life when he was passed from one relative to another.
In 1968, while in Centenary on a farm, he started to learn playing the banjo. The following year, there was a serious drought in Zimbabwe, and John, in search of further education and survival walked from Centenary to Darwendale where he settled at a farm called Wagon Wheels. He worked at the farm as a tractor-driver and lorry driver while attending school. He quit school after form 3. It took John another 10 years before he made the move that was designed to realise the dream of becoming the cherished musician he became.
He moved to Chitungwiza where he was soon to become popularly known as "Mr Chitungwiza", after the name of the town. Through his music, John soon became a household name. He initially formed a group with Simon and Naison Chimbetu called The Sungura Boys.
In 1985 he formed his own group known as The Tembo Brothers and immediately drew attention on account of Chibadura's intense voice and achingly poignant lyrics. Although their sungura beat was fast and furious, John's songs often told of downbeat misery, broken families, excessive dowries in "$5.000 Dollars Kuroora" and wasted opportunities. The sorrowfulness of the lyrics notwithstanding, the Tembo Brothers enjoyed a massive following among Zimbabweans and Mozambicans, where songs like "Zuva Rekufa Kwangu", "5,000 Dollars Kuroora" and "Nhamo Yatakawona" became big anthems.
In the early 1990s John toured the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. He also toured Mozambique where he was so popular that he only played in stadiums where his audiences at some point exceeded 40 000. In Mozambique he was often met by President Chisano. Though most of his life was spent in Zimbabwe, Mozambique regarded him as a long-lost son and when in the country he would be ferried to concerts by the presidential helicopter.
Links to Peel[]
Peel along with Andy Kershaw discovered the singer in the late 80's and both would play his songs on their radio stations. Chibadura did one session for Peel and a few sessions for Kershaw's programme between the late 80's and early 90's.
On his 11 April 1988 show, Peel mentioned seeing John Chibadura perform at the Red Lantern in Zimbabwe and said the singer was shy in performing, by singing at the beginning behind a pillar. He played a record on the programme from an album by him, which he bought copies in Zimbabwe.
Sessions[]
JOHN CHIBADURA & THE TEMBO BROTHERS John Peel 19th November 1989
1. Recorded: 1989-11-19. First Broadcast: 06 December 1989. Repeated: 08 January 1990
- Shira / Diya Wangu / Mukadzi Wangu / Amai
Other Shows Played[]
- John Chibadura
- 19 April 1988: Mutumwa (CD - The Best Of John Chibadura) ZMC
- 17 May 1989: Shirah (album - The Essential John Chibadura) CSA
- 22 May 1989: Diya Wangu (LP - The Essential John Chibadura) CSA
- 27 June 1989: Diya Wangu (LP - The Essential John Chibadura) CSA
- 05 February 1990: Kurera Mwana (album - The Essential John Chibadura) CSA
- John Chibadura & The Tembo Brothers
- 03 March 1987: Su-Zay-Knee (phonetically) (v/a album - Maunguira A Zimbabwe Volume 2) (Peel mentions the album has artists featuring the Vhuka Boys, Fallen Heroes, Zimbabwe Clear Sounds, Sweet Melodies, John Chibadura & The Tembo Brothers, Mother Band, Search Brothers and the Sungura Boys)
- 15 February 1988: Mukadzi Wangu (Emeli) (LP - $5000 (Kuroora)) Mosi-Oa-Tunya
- 01 March 1988: Mukadzi Wangu (Emeli) (LP - $5000 (Kuroora)) Mosi-Oa-Tunya
- 27 April 1988: Linda (LP - $5000 (Kuroora)) Mosi-Oa-Tunya
- 24 May 1988: Chisingapere (LP - Kugarika Tangenhamo) Musi-Oa-Tunya
- 05 July 1988: Rugare (LP - Rugare) Zimbabwe Music Corporation
- 13 February 1989: Linda (LP - $5000 (Kuroora)) Mosi-Oa-Tunya
- 15 February 1989: unknown
- 04 October 1989: Mhunza Musha (LP - $5000 (Kuroora)) Mosi-Oa-Tunya
- 04 June 1990: 'Ndingakutendei Neiko (CD-More Of The Essential John Chibadura And The Tembo Brothers)' (CSA)
- 07 June 1990: Ida Anokudawo (album - More Of The Essential John Chibadura And The Tembo Brothers) CSA
- 03 September 1994: Vekadzi Vivanhu (LP - Vengai Zvenyu) (Universal)
- 10 September 1994 (BFBS): Vekadzi Vivanhu (LP - Vengai Zvenyu) (Universal)
- 23 March 2000: Chimeso Meso (LP - More Of The Essential John Chibadura And The Tembo Brothers) CSA
- 02 May 2000: 'Chimeso Meso (LP-More Of The Essential John Chibadura And The Tembo Brothers)' (CSA)
- John Chibadura & The Sungura Boys
- 11 April 1988: Hupenyu Hwangu (LP - Kurera) Musi-Oa-Tunya
- 18 May 1988 (Rockradio): Nhamo Yatakawona (LP - Kurera) Musi-Oa-Tunya
- Sungura Boys
- 10 March 1987: Lucia (LP - The Best Of The Sungura Boys) Teal Sound
- 07 March 1988: Soweto (v/a LP - "Goodbye Sandra": Zimbabwe Hits Volume Two) Discafrique International
- 16 March 1988: Zimbabwe / Rhodesia (v/a LP - Goodbye Sandra (Various Zimbabweans Volume 2)) Discafrique
- 21 March 1988: Africa (v/a LP - Goodbye Sandra (Various Zimbabweans Volume 2)) Discafrique
- 01 June 1988: Kunze Kwayedza (LP - Tasarira Nhamo) Jabulani