Allan Chimbetu
Allan Chimbetu is a talented Zimbabwean guitarist, vocalist ad composer. He is also one of the founding members of the Dendera music genre together with his brothers, Simon Chimbetu and Naison Chimbetu that saw them becoming one of the best outfits in the 1980s. Allan was born on the 12th of February 1972 in Chegutu and is the last born in a family of eight in which Simon was the eldest child. He is married to Tambudzai Tambandini Sithole. The couple is blessed with four children, first born Douglas Chimbetu, who is also a musician; Sarah the only girl in the family, Victor and Panashe. He did his primary education at Mahwada Primary School in Msengezi High School and his secondary schooling at St Peter’s High School in Highfield. Allan had been a musician since the early 80s. He started off as bouncer for his brother (Simon’s) shows. He was the doorman on most occasions. This made him to aquire a black belt in karate. He was later included in the band were his talent in the lead and rhythm guitars was clearly evident. Some of the songs in which he played that made him a force to reckon with in as far as playing the guitar include hits such as "Usaende pa Barika", "Ndaremerwa", "Newspaper", "Pane Asipo", "Window" and "Tenda". After the death of Simon, Allan took over the reins as Dendera Kings band leader. He led the band for some time but was later involved in an altercation with Suluman Chimbetu who is Simon’s son. He was then ousted and went on to try his luck in creating his own band, Orchestra Dendera Kings Central Committee. He went on to release three albums with the band Sony, Professor and Simukai. Allan then left his band in charge of his son Douglas before joining Sulumani Chimbetu's Dendera Kings in 2011. He said he did this to avoid creating another Dendera outfit as there were already three bands. He said his move was to return to the founding principles of creating one united dendera outfit, a vision which he said had his brother Simon. He said this was evident in 2004 when the latter disbanded Sulu's band , "The Trackers"
Sungura
