John Chibadura

**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 Kershaw

Kershaw along with John Peel discovered the singer in the late 80's and both would play his songs on their radio stations. Chibadura did a few sessions for Kershaw's programme between the late 80's and early 90's, as well as doing one for Peel's show in 1989.

## Sessions

1. Recorded: 1989-10-12. First Broadcast: 22 October 1989

* Linda / Five Thousand Dollars / Chi Miso Miso / Raft Haru Sarure

2. Recorded: 1990-06-14. First Broadcast: 08 July 1990

* Mudzimu Yangu / Kugarika Tange Nahm / Rudo

3. Recorded: 1991-08-08. First Broadcast: 08 September 1991. Repeated: 06 November 1993, 23 March 2000

* Kunatsa Hima / Zuva Rekufa Kwangu / Lovemore / Hosana

## Other Shows Played

   1988
* 10 March 1988: 5000 Dollars (Kuroora) (LP - $5000 (Kuroora)) Musi-Oa-Tunya
* Andy Kershaw In Zimbabwe: unknown

1991
* 17 November 1991: Baba Va Dambudzo (LP - Ndirimuhondo) Kudzanayi
* 01 December 1991: Tereza (LP - Ndirimuhondo) Kudzanayi
* 08 December 1991: Ndirimuhondo (LP - Ndirimuhondo) Kudzanayi

1992
* 05 January 1992: Amai va Rumbidzai (LP - 5000 Dollars) ZMC
* 09 May 1992: Munhu Hana Chakanaka (CD - More Of The Essential...) CSA

1993
* 24 April 1993: Muranda (cassette - Muranda) ZMC

1994
* 05 March 1994: $5000 (Kuroora)
* 22 October 1994: Dhiya Ungwarire
* 05 November 1994: Seiko
* 04 December 1994: Shanje Dzepabarika (CD - Madiro) Kudzanai
* 25 December 1994: Ambuya Vangu (LP - Madiro) Kudzanai

1995
* 12 March 1995: Ndipe Mwana Wangu (LP - Rugare) Kudzanayi

1996
* 10 March 1996: Pfuma Yenhaka
* 04 August 1996: Kurera

1997
* 21 April 1997: Mudkazi Wamakandiroorera
* 16 June 1997: Ndichafa Ndiri Bhachura (LP - Kukura Kurerwa) ZMC
* 13 October 1997: Mutumwa (CD - The Best Of John Chibadura) ZMC
* 20 October 1997: Mukadzi Wamakandiroorera (CD - The Best Of John Chibadura) ZMC
* 24 November 1997: Ndichafa Hdiri Bhachura (CD - The Best Of John Chibadura) ZMC

1998
* 12 January 1998: Zuva Rawakandida (LP - Zuva Guru) ZMC
* 02 March 1998: Ndichafa Ndiri Bhachura (CD - The Best Of John Chibadura) ZMC

1999
* 22 April 1999: Vengai Zvenyu (v/a CD - Roots Rock Guitar Party) Earthworks
* 17 June 1999: Nhamo (v/a CD - Roots Rock Guitar Party Zimbabwe Frontline 3) Sterns
* 12 August 1999: Tsiga Mwana Wangu (single) Farayi Farayi
* 12 August 1999: 5000 Dollars (CD - The Essential John Chibadura) CSA
* 30 September 1999: Vengai Zvenyu (CD - Roots Rock Guitar Party Zimbabwe Frontline 3) Stern's

2000
* 13 January 2000: Mitembo Yababa (CD - The Best of John Chibadura & The Tembo Brothers) ZMC
* 24 February 2000: Ndirikutambura (Cassette - Nguva Yakaoma) ZMC
* 09 March 2000: Chiiko (Cassette - Nguva Yakaoma) ZMC
* 18 May 2000: Tezvara (Cassette - 6 Original Full Length Maxi Tracks) ZMC

2001
* 06 July 2001: Rudo Rwechokwadi (CD - The Great Mr Chitungwiza) ZMC

2022
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 18: 5000 Dollars (Kuroora)

2023
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 26: Linda (album - The Essential John Chibadura) CSA

## External Links

* Mangue Music
* Discogs