Alick Macheso Praises Intotal Band After Standout Performance at Ecobank Legends Night 2.0
Sungura King Alick Macheso has officially thrown his weight behind the Intotal Band, decisively ending widespread speculation that he was unhappy with the group performing renditions of his classic hits.
Rumors of a bitter feud first emerged after the two acts performed together at a recent show in London. However, their reunion at the Ecobank Legends Night at Alex Sports Club this past weekend firmly shut down the gossip, providing a massive victory for Intotal Band and their influential producer, Mono Mukundu.
Mono 1, Fungisai 0
The London show controversy had added serious fuel to a raging national debate: should local artists, like Intotal Band, build their profiles and commercial success around playing renditions of other artists' songs?
The Master Meets The Students
Macheso usually performs exclusively with his Orchestra Mberikwazvo, but Intotal Band took that job on Saturday night, backing the Sungura King flawlessly for a 30-minute set.
At one point, Macheso was so profoundly impressed by their musicianship that he physically handed his iconic guitar to one of Intotal Band’s members to finish the set.
"I thought I was coming here to teach them one or two things but when I got on stage, I realised I was the one who had something to learn. These guys are good... Their music, energy and experience showed me that there is always something to learn."
— Alick Macheso
A Cultural Reunion
The crowd, many of whom hailed from generations long before the "Ama2k" era, fully embraced the theme. Fans arrived in vintage outfits, bell-bottom trousers, and retro dresses, turning Alex Sports Club into a living celebration of a musical golden era.
"This was legendary for me. I never imagined I would witness Yondo Sister performing with such energy on stage. When I heard she was one of the headliners, I was reluctant because of her age, but this was out of this world. Her dance moves and everything she represented on stage were on point."
— Sharon Ngirazi (Concert Fan)
Sona Verdict: The Power of Musical Homage
Alick Macheso’s resounding endorsement of the Intotal Band is a massive milestone not just for the group, but for Zimbabwe's wider music industry. For months, the debate surrounding "cover bands" has been unnecessarily toxic, fueled by social media clashes between industry veterans like Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave and Mono Mukundu.
Macheso’s humility on stage—admitting he was the one learning from the younger band—proves that true musical legends understand the value of homage. Intotal Band is not stealing legacies; they are actively preserving them for live audiences who crave the nostalgia of a golden era. A great song belongs to the people, and a great band knows how to deliver it.
Coupled with breathtaking performances by African giants like Yondo Sister, the Ecobank Legends Night proved that music fans don't care about social media politics—they care about the vibe. And Intotal Band, backed by the Sungura King himself, delivered the vibe flawlessly.
Source: Maria Chiguvari | Zimpapers Arts & Entertainment Hub
