HARARE - Dendera musician Suluman Chimbetu is convinced that at long last he is now his own man after years of living in the shadow of his late legendary father Simon Chimbetu.

Sulu‘s fourth album Syllabus released in November last year, particularly the hit-song Sean Timba with its popular chorus line Batai Munhu, has captured the imagination of Zimbabwean music fans.

“One of the key advice my father gave me was to be original and not copy anyone”, Sulu told the Daily News recently.

“Ever since I started my own music career I have always strived to follow my father’s advice to be my own man. I believe that Syllabus has proved in a big way that I have made significant strides."

Sulu’s earlier albums did not excite the fans that much but his fortunes seemed to have changed for the better when Reverse Deal won the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) Outstanding Album of the Year in 2009.

Zimbabwe’s musician of the moment recently scooped three Nama awards.

He took home the Outstanding Male Musician award while his all-conquering Syllabus grabbed the Outstanding Album gong.

The dendera musician’s dominance also earned him The People’s Choice award.

The Sean Timba singer is happy because he is continuing to prove his critics wrong.

“Many people have always said I would not reach a high level because they wrongly argued that I was riding on the fame of my late father.

“But album after album I am showing that I have the ability to raise the bar all the time."

The dendera star told the Daily News that he took advantage of his presence at the Carnaval International de Victoria in the Indian Ocean Island of Seychelles early this month to shoot scenes for several of his songs.

“(Seychelles) is very very beautiful that is why we decided to shoot some scenes for our videos there," said the Sean Timba singer. - Dakarai Mashava, Entertainment Editor