Biography

Simon is one of the many Zim musicians who have have found their footing in bands before heading out to pursue solo careers. Chimbetu first found success in the Marxist Brothers. Formed by Simon, along with his brothers Naison, Brian and Allan, the band had a string of hits during the 1980s and early 1990s. Despite backing Simon on his first solo effort, Karikoga, The Marxist Brothers eventually dissolved in the mid-90s as the members left to pursue their own careers, while others joined Simon's backing band, Dendera Kings. This set the stage for Simon to assume the position of one of Zimbabwe's premier rhumba artists.

Taking the torch from acts such as Jonah Moyo, Chimbetu hit stardom with albums such as Survival, and Lullaby. Compared to most Zim rhumba, Simon's songs feature guitar solos sandwiched between prominent vocal lines and repetitive guitar riffs. His music is similar to that of his earlier band, the Marxist Brothers, as well as popular rhumba musician Leonard Zhakata. His songs tend to focus on the working class and the poor; unsurprisingly, Chimbetu has come out in supprt of the recent land grab.

Simon hasn't been far from controversy during his career. At the peak of his popularity, he spent four years in jail after being convicted of car theft. Rumours hit, in 2002, that he hadn't paid his farm workers for months. Additionally, his pro-government stance, as well as the waning popularity of rhumba, has not endeared him to fans of late.

Chopper a Fully-Fledged Farmer >> The Herald (22 June 02)
Chopper Promises Second Landing >> Daily News (24 Sept 02)
Chopper: "I'm no spent force" >> Sunday Mail (09 Feb 02)
Mapfumo has no sympathy for partisans >> Daily News (11 Feb 02)
Chimbetu Family Feud >> The Standard (1? Apr 03)

Sources: Zindi, MusicYeZimbabwe and Graham, The World of African Music, various newspapers (Herald, Sunday Mail, Daily News, Standard) and visitor submissions.

Discography

Hoko	Gramma	2002
African Panorama - Chapter Two	Gramma	2001
2000 Blend	Gramma	2000
African Panorama - Chapter One	Gramma	1999
Lullaby	Gramma	1997
Survival	Gramma
Karikoga feat. Marxist Brothers	Gramma	1995
Zuva Raenda

Karikoga

Released: 1995
Label: Gramma
Format: CD
Running Time:
Stocked by: Stern's

Survival

Released:
Label: Gramma - CDKSA173
Format: CD
Running Time: .
Stocked by: Stern's, Zimsounds

Survival was a hit for Simon Chimbetu.

Lullaby

Released: 1997
Label: Gramma
Format: CD
Running Time: .
Stocked by: Stern's, Zimsounds

Lullaby was Chimbetu's most successful release, containing the hit Dzandipedza Mafuta.

African Panorama - Chapter One

Released: 1999
Label: Gramma
Format: CD
Running Time: 62 minutes, 8 tracks.
Stocked by: Zimsounds

African Panorama - Chapter One is a recognizable Chimbetu album. The guitar is catchy, the vocals aren't too repetitive and the CD has a good overall sound. Although I find that Simon's songs are all a little too similar, Chapter One is a good introduction to Chimbetu, danceable, electrictrfying rhumba.

2000 Blend

Released: 2000
Label: Gramma
Format: CD
Running Time:
Stocked by: Zimsounds, Stern's

Blend? I guess "2000 Re-Release" didn't have the same ring. 2000 Blend contains reworked Marxist Brothers classics, as well as two new songs, Newspaper and Spare Wheel. Check out the Zimbabwe Mirror's review: "Chopper lands with a real gem."

African Panorama - Chapter Two

Released: 2001
Label: Gramma
Format: CD
Running Time: .
Stocked by: Zimsounds

Simon's second-latest release continues his string of guitar based albums, which reportedly sold over 100 000 copies.

Hoko

Released: 2002
Label: Gramma
Format: CD
Running Time:
Stocked by: Sterns

Land grab or cash grab? Chimbetu comes out in favour of the Mugabe government's land re-appropriation schemes, and suffers a drop in popularity as a result. Still a force to be reckoned with, Chimbetu 2002 album Hoko wasn't the hit that was expected, and Chimbetu found his pull to be significantly weakened. Did releasing the album on Halloween ensure a stroke of bad luck?