‘Shabalala music will never die’
WHEN Paul Simon introduced Ladysmith Black Mambazo during the Graceland Concert at Rufaro Stadium, Harare, in 1987, he explained that they were named after the mbazo, “a small axe, because of the power of their vocals”.
Ladysmith was their home town in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
After being introduced by Simon, an American pop star who had turned solo, but rose to fame in the 60s as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, the acapella group broke into one of their greatest hits ever, “Nomathemba”.
ITS cupid’s weekend with a difference.
It is that one time after four years of spending on their loved ones, men get to sit back and enjoy being spoilt.
Artistes and entertainment venues alike have prepared a great weekend filled with special events for lovers to spend reminiscing on love.
Business themed love fiesta
Gotcha Nyama Steakhouse, will tommorow host a unique St Valentine’s Day ball at their upmarket branch in Newlands, Harare.
The event, to be hosted in partnership with a local development player, Zimbabwe Business and Arts Hub (Zibah), will see participants treated to good food, music and some nuggets on how to survive in this economy.
Event organiser and Gotcha Nyama Steakhouse chief executive Julian Mutukudzi said they had come up with what they believe is a unique programme for this year’s Valentine’s.
Various give aways have been tabled for the best dressed couples while a “how well do you know your partner” quiz will also have prizes while entertainment will be provided by local resident DJs.
Pakare Paye Arts Centre
Trending musician Jah Prayzah will tonight give Norton his annual Valentine’s treat at the late Tuku’s Pakare Paye Arts Centre.
This time around he shares the stage with the Black Spirits. The event, which had
They also performed the famous “Homeless” and “Hello My Baby,” and featured in Simon’s all-time hit “Call Me Al”.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Simon ended the concert with the most emotional piece of the show — the proposed South African national anthem — together with music arranger for the Graceland tour, Ray Phiri and jazz crooners, Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela.
This particular version of “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica” was South Africa’s first national anthem after independence in 1994 before the adoption of the new hybrid version in 1997.
It was also Zimbabwe’s first national anthem until 1994, while Zambia and Namibia also had it as the first national anthem.
Before the Graceland tour, Ladysmith Black Mambazo had already carved a name as probably the most influential group in Matabeleland boarding schools.
What Ladysmith Black Mambazo referred to as isicathamiya music, was and still is, commonly known as imbube in Zimbabwe.
Isichathamiya is the official name of the acapella vocals accompanied by a tip toe dance, created by migrant and local miners in South Africa during the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association (Wenela) era in become popular a permanent feature on Tuku Music calendar, returns a year after Tuku’s death.
Jah Prayzah who is set to launch his new ninth album titled Hokoyo in April 3, will have a chance to sample some of the songs at the Valentine’s Day.
Tuku Music board chairperson Tungamidzayi “Tunga” Simango confirmed the show.
“Everything is now in place and we are raring to go as we fulfil some of the wishes of the late Dr Tuku.
La Rouge
Seasoned musician Alexio Kawara and his band Shades of Black will tonight give lovers a treat at La Rouge Lounge, Westgate Shopping Mall.
He is armed with years of experience and a great catalogue of love songs including “Karwiyo Aka”, “Shaina” and “Musikana Akanaka”. Pagomba
Beitbridge will tonight come alive with a thrilling combination of rising female musicians Pah Chihera and Jean Masters at Pagomba.
Pah Chihera will be out to prove that she is not a one-hit wonder having risen to fame with a collaborative hit “Runonzi Rudo” the 1930s.
Following another Ladysmith musician, Solomon Linda’s hit “Mbube (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)” a new version of isichathamiya was born.
This version — imbube — has since become part and parcel of Ndebele culture.
In boarding schools, groups named after Ladysmith Black Mambazo were formed in the 70s and are still alive until this day.
Gospel songs like “King of Kings”, “Siligugu Isphambano”, “Ofananaye” and “Nhliziyo Yami” are performed during Sunday service and assembly.
The most successful of such groups is Black Umfolosi which was formed in 1982 at George Silundika High School in Matabeleland North.
Black Umfolosi became the first imbube group from Zimbabwe to tour Europe in 1990 and were made famous locally by their hits “Ngithembe Wena” and “Unity,” a song they penned after being invited to perform during the 1989 Independence Day celebrations.
I remember late founder member Benia Phuthi once told me that promoters went out of their way to ensure that Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Black Umfolosi did not have competing shows.
They were always in different countries. before fading into oblivion.
Jean Masters will be out to prove that she is an artiste to lookout for.
Zimdancehall Awards
The awards go ahead as planned tonight at Wood Sensation, Long Cheng Plaza, with those who have worked hard this year walking away with their gongs.
Zimparks Gardens
Comedian Ray Vines will be at Zimparks hosting an outdoor movie. He has promised to show up with his girlfriend, only identified as Ruva, next to him.
Burnouts
It will be a day of thrilling wheel spins at Borrowdale Racecourse as Motswana spinner, The General, get a dance with locals.
Dubbed “Valentine Spin Bash”, the event will have top crews and drivers around the country, among them C Jay, Jay Motors, Fat Cat Motors, Third District, Snap on Stunt-Masters, Team New Boys and Ice Motors.
Charles Prince Airport
It will be a romantic dive at Charles Prince Airport as the strip hosts Valentine’s skydiving for lovers. If you’re not afraid of heights and are up for a thrill then this is a place to be this Saturday.
Surviving founder members Sotsha Ndlovu and Tomeki Dube are also dear friends.
In the mid-90s, Sunduza, led by the late Sam Banda, managed to break into the European tour scene. The group, which is now fronted by Banda’s son, Charles, has famous songs like “Bulawayo” and “eNjelele” — which receives regular play on ZTV.
Another dear friend, Jeys Marabini, was a member of Sunduza.
Imbizo is another successful group which toured at around the same time.
Amabubesi, a group fronted by Lameck “Chikwari” Moyo, made waves after being only the second group to have an imbube hit in shona: “Rega Kusarira”.
Previously, another song “Ndatambura”, by a much older group had made the charts.
Insingizi, another internationally touring group, were made famous by the song, “To All Walks Of Life”.
White Umfolosi, Ihawu Lesizwe, Ugodlwayo Bright Stars and the well-travelled Umdumo Wesizwe are a few other groups inspired by Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Perhaps the group that received the most personal grooming from Joseph Shabalala himself is Indosakusa: The Morning Star (formerly Impumelelo Shining Stars).
Led by founder Oscar Siziba, the group would visit Shabalala at his Ladysmith home and also had the chance to record “Wob’y ubuye,” a song written for the group by Shabalala.
I remember in 2013 when Siziba told me about the warm welcome they had received from Shabalala when they met for the first time.
Efforts to get Shabalala awarded a doctoral degree by a local university by artistes led by poet Albert Nyathi suffered a still birth, but it is never too late to honour a hero.
Shabalala’s footprint still reverberates today through the sound of world acclaimed Bulawayo all-female acapella group, Nobuntu.
I also had a Shabalala moment while at Fatima High School in Matabeleland North in 1999.
I was leading a group which called itself Black Nswilili and received airplay after being recorded by the late Radio Four (National FM) great, Maplot Jubane.
“Zube Nam”, “Emlanjeni” and “Ngithunyiwe Kini” were the Shabalala compositions that earned us airplay.
Bhekizizwe Joseph Siphat’mandla Mxoveni Mshengu Bigboy Shabalala may have died in his native South Africa on Tuesday, but in Zimbabwe, his music will never die.