The Strum
David Hondoyendzomba
Born David Ruzivo
Hondoyendzomba on the 7th of
March 1980, David credits his
musical skills to his family
background. His father was a
teacher and also played the acoustic
guitar, whilst his mother was part of
the church choir at the Salvation
Army. David is also quite the sporty
one as he loves basketball which he
used to play way back in high
school before he put his full time
concentration on his music. He is
also an athlete and is a master in
karate. Like the saying goes,” A way
to a man’s heart is through his
stomach”, and David is no
exception, not only does he love
22
The story of acoustic players is
often that of humble beginnings.
Thanks to the likes of legendary
Oliver Mtukudzi the acoustic
guitar has become an instrument
to be celebrated and the genres
brought about by this beautiful
instrument are changing the
sounds of Zimbabwean music.
One young artist who has taken
inspiration is David
Hondoyendzomba who would
like to be known as “Mr Bindura”
a title taken from his hometown,
Bindura.
cheese, he also cooks. A man
of many of many talents we
must say.
With his debut album “Uncle
Sam” out, David shares with
us the great elements of
playing the guitar.
GM.: Please tell us about your
debut album, ’Uncle Sam’
which is also the title track.
David: “Uncle Sam” is actually
the story of my life. The song is
about a young man who moves
to the city to seek opportunity
and he is being told to go back
home to “Uncle Sam”, who
happens to be his uncle,
’musarapavana’. I have my uncle at
home whom I regard as my
father, as my own father is now
late.
GM.: How did you start
playing the guitar and are there
other instruments that you
play?
David: I don’t know, I love rock
because rock music is about
guitars. I had a friend, an old
friend of mine, Masimba Kangai.
We used to listen to rock music.
He introduced me to Bon Jovi
and Bryan Adams so you know,
that’s