Prince Tendai
| Prince Tendai | |
|---|---|
| Born | Prince Tendai Mupfurutsa June 10, 1955 |
| Died | December 28, 2011 (aged 56) |
| Nationality | Zimbabwe |
| Occupation | Music Promoter
|
| Spouse(s) | Ringisai Susan Mupfurutsa and Jacqueline Mudzamba |
| Children | Tendai Jnr, Rutendo, Kudakwashe and Munashe |
| Relatives | Amos Mupfurutsa (Brother) |
Prince Tendai was a popular Zimbabwean musician, businessman and philanthropist who is credited for creating the Urban Grooves genre, at a time when there was no alternative music to the Sungura genre. He is best known for founding the first ever black-owned record label, 'High Density Records' in 1994 and becoming the first Zimbabwean musician to be nominated for the Kora Music Awards in 1997.[1] The talented musician was credited for bringing to Zimbabwe Rythm and Blew musician, Akon and dancehall sensation, Sean Paul in 2010 under his Real Deal promotions.
Background
He was born Prince Tendai Mupfurutsa on the 10th June 1955 in Magunje Village. Mupfurutsa was initially married to Ringisai Susan Mupfurutsa with who they had two children, Tendai and Rutendo.[2] He then got married to his second wife Jacqueline Mudzamba, with who they sired two children, Kudakwashe and Munashe.[2]
Music career
The "Man" as he was affectionately known by his fans, announced his grand entrance in the music industry in the 1990's as Producer and Musician with his label High-Density Studios. He had started learning the guitar back in 1982. Prince Tendai recorded his first hit “Zambezi to Limpopo” with the Midnight Magic and the song went gold in the 1980s. He made waves with hits such as "Character","Zambara" and 'Maria' among others. 'Character' became a hit in Zimbabwe and abroad that it was nominated for the KORA Music Awards in the Best African Song of the Year category. The song was taken off his "Uprising" album. He went on to release many hits under Barbed Wire sound(music type). He worked with several groups and musicians like Marshall Munhumumwe, Newman Chipeni and Afrika Revenge. He once recorded with rhumba giant Kanda Bongoman.[3] The flamboyant artist released several albums, the most notable being “Serious” with hits such as “From Zambezi to Limpopo”. This album was preceded by the albums '"Midnight Magic 2"' and "Midnight Magic 3" with hit singles “Sweet Temptation” and Cowboy”.
Song and Video
Grooming
Mupfurutsa groomed many musicians such as the group Soul Bone which went to win a National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) in 2010 in the best video of the year.
Charity Work
Tendai was not only a musician but someone who gave back to the community. The 'man' who lost a sister to HIV, established Sokhaya – the soccer tournament for women living with HIV. The tournament which cost him about US$30,000 a year with no profit played a huge part in removing stigma from those living with HIV and created opportunities for marginalized women to realize their potential.[4]
Major Successses
- He founded the first black-owned record label that was called Hi-Density Records in 1994. The company signed musicians like Simon Chimbetu and Marko Sibanda.
- He was the first Zimbabwean musician to be nominated for the Kora Music Awards in 1997 in the Best African Song of the Year category for the song Character. This opened doors for the likes of Chiwoniso Maraire, Oliver Mtukudzi who were also nominated in following years.
- He became the first local producer to record an internationally-based rhumba group when he did an album for Kanda Bongoman titled Safari yaZimbabwe.
References
- ↑ Prince Tendai Dies,Three Men on a Boat, Published: 28 Dec 2011, Retrieved:1 Apr 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Prince Tendai left houses for both his wives, Nehanda Radio, Published: January 27, 2012, Retrieved: February 16, 2015
- ↑ Richmore Tera, Prince Tendai dies, The Herald, Published: December 28, 2011, Retrieved: April 1, 2014
- ↑ Monica Cheru-Mpambawashe, Mupfurutsa was a real prince, The Herald, Published: 29 Dec 2011, Retrieved: 1 April 2014
