Cephas Mashakada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[edit] Biography
Cephas Mashakada was born in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe in 1960. He teamed up with other boys from the small farming town and formed the Wild Tenin 1977. The other members of the group were the late Biggie Tembo who later found fame with the Bhundu Boys, Jacob Teguru, Franco Kazere and the late David Ziome.
The group relocated to Harare, then Salisbury, in 1978 at the invitation of the late Paul Mpofu of the World Tomorrow Band that had toured Chinhoyi.In Harare, the group found a base at Saratoga Night Club in Highfield, except Biggie and Franco who would become members of the Wild Dragons that later became the Bhundu Boys.
Because they were merging two groups -- the Wild Ten and World Tomorrow Band -- it was decided that a new name be found and they settled for the Muddy Face. The group was to find its success after Job Mashanda’s emergence releasing hits such as Amai Mandigona, Rakabuda Zuva MuAfrica and Denga Rababa.
When Job left to pursue a solo career that did not blossom, Cephas and Mpofu produced their own hits in PaInyanga, Kilimanjaro and Nherera.
Mpofu left in the late 90s to start his own group, Zambuko Band, but Cephas remained and soldiered on. His backing group has been renamed Sounds of the Muddy Face. The sungura singer, who has recorded over 15 albums in a career spanning three decades, released Nyaradzo Yakaitwa in 2004 -- his biggest selling album to date.
Cephas Mashakada had his leg amputated on Thursday 12 October 2006 after doctors at the Chitungwiza General Hospital struggled to contain an "ulcer-like lesion" on his leg.
The Nyaradzo Yakaitwa star had been in hospital for a month after being admitted soon after performing at a ceremony to remember the late Vice President Simon Muzenda in Mutare.Doctors diagnosed diabetes as the cause of the 46-year-old singer's illness.
extracted from newzimbabwe.com ('Mashakada's leg amputated', 13/10/2006)
