System Tazvida

Infobox musical artist
Name = System Tavida
Background = lead_singer
Birth_name = System Tazvida
Alias = King of Chitungwiza
Born = birth date and age|1955|9|14
Origin = Chitungwiza, Harare,Zimbabwe
Died = death date|1999|4|11|1955|
Genre = Sungura
Occupation = singer, songwriter,
Years_active = 1971–1998
Label = Gramma
Associated_acts = Simon Chimbetu, Chazezesa Challengers, Oliver Mtukudzi
URL = [http://www.embargo.ca/zim/artists/bios/cchall/index.htm]

System Tazvida was a Zimbabwean musician very popular in his home country mainly in the 1990s, though not as well known internationally. Tazvida wrote and performed songs mainly in his native Shona tongue.

Tazvida was best known for his hits "Anodyiwa Haataure" and "Mushandi Ndimambo". However, it was his 1993 hit "Rudo Tsika Nemagariro" which propelled him to national stardom.

Tazvida perfomed with his band the Chazezesa Challengers. He recruited some experienced musicians, including his bassist brother Peter. The band of five are veterans of the Zimbabwe music scene. System Tazvida had previously played with the Khiama Boys, the Mabhauwa Express and the Sungura Boys. His brother Peter is a Nyami Nyami Sounds alumnus. Guitarist LeeRoy Lunga had played with both the Super Sounds and the Kasongo Band, while percussionist Lucky Mumiriki had experience with the Hurungwe Sounds and the Sungura Boys.

The group successfully mixed elements of sungura, jazz, South African mbaqanga and traditional sounds, creating an appealing and popular blend. The Chazezesa Challengers produced a string of hit albums in the mid-to-late 1990s; their debut, Rudo Tsika Nemagariro, sold more than 20 000 copies, while Mutunhu Unemago topped 30 000. Some of their top songs include Anodyiwa Haature, Mabhauwa, and Vaforomani. The Challengers were known for their humourous lyrics and satirical subjects. The band also toured in Mozambique, where they were popular.

Tragically, the band experienced two deaths in quick succession, as drummer Wezhira Shoko and talismanic leader System Tazvida both died near the turn of the millennium. The group has continued without System and Wezhira. Since their deaths they have produced three albums, including the tribute record Panopfungaira Pane Moto in honour of their former leader. The band has also assumed a new name, Boyz dzeSmoko, in which "Smoko" is a unique acronym for their self-titled style of music. Unfortunately, System's successor and younger brother Peter died in 2002. This, however, has not stopped the group. Under the leadership of Lee Roy Lunga, the boys released their twelfth album, Smoko Pachena/Chabvondoka, in December of 2002.