Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]
FOR more than four decades, Black Umfolosi has been taking Zimbabwean music, dance and culture to audiences around the world. This month, the celebrated imbube group will once again represent the country on an international stage when it embarks on a month-long tour of the United Kingdom.
The tour, which runs from July 4 to August 2, will also coincide with the launch of the group’s new EP, Sukuma/Get Up, a project carrying messages of peace, love and equality.
For founding member Sotsha Moyo, the journey is particularly significant. More than 40 years after Black Umfolosi was formed by a group of friends at George Silundika High School in 1982, he remains the only original member still pursuing the dream that inspired the group’s creation — preserving and promoting imbube music.
Starting in Southwell and ending in Sidmouth, the UK tour will see the group perform for audiences across the country while introducing new songs that speak to shared humanity and unity.
Over the years, Black Umfolosi has built a loyal following through its distinctive blend of powerful harmonies, storytelling and energetic dance routines.
The group’s performances combine traditional imbube singing with Zulu dance and gumboot dance, creating a rich cultural experience that has won admirers across the globe.
Joining Sotsha on the UK tour are Austin Chisare, Luzibo Moyo, Witness Dube, Thandeka Moyo and Zenzo Hlaseka. Lulamile Moyo will remain in Zimbabwe because of prior commitments.
Looking back on the group’s journey, Sotsha said the road has not always been easy.
“Black Umfolosi is a journey of friends that started in 1982 at a school, George Silundika High. When travelling on a journey you encounter a lot of challenges and some opportunities. So, some of my colleagues left through challenges or greener pastures. These experiences come with causes for one to abandon the dream or objectives set, hence I am the only one left still pursuing the dream. That dream to revive and promote the culture of traditional imbube music,” he said.
While many of the original members have moved on, Sotsha’s passion for the group remains undiminished. In fact, he says working with younger performers has injected new energy into Black Umfolosi.
“We are touring the United Kingdom this month (July) to early August this year. The mood of the tour cast is great and we look forward to sharing good time with our fans and also sharing the stage with international talents. As for me, I feel really blessed this time to be leading a young team with new ideas that they bring on board and energy,” he said.
Among those helping shape the future of the group are his daughters, Luzibo and Lulamile. Their involvement has brought a new dimension to Black Umfolosi and created a link between generations.
Although only Luzibo will be travelling to the UK, Sotsha said sharing the stage with his daughters has been one of the most rewarding experiences of his career.
“They are both amazing talents. Working with my children has brought a lot of fun. They have always seen me on stage and I have provided them through music. I never knew they would one day ask to join me and experience the same,” he said.
He described both daughters as gifted singers, dancers and songwriters whose contributions have added fresh ideas to the group’s music.
Their growing influence can be heard on Sukuma/Get Up, the EP that will be officially launched during the UK tour.
According to Sotsha, the project blends the group’s traditional sound with the voices of a younger generation.
“It features Luzibo and Lulamile leading some songs. I wish Lula was travelling too so she could deliver live some of the songs she led,” he said.
Beyond the music, the EP carries a message aimed at encouraging people to live together peacefully and share the world’s resources fairly.
“Sukuma/Get Up is composed of songs that call upon humanity to share the world and its provisions equally, in love, peace and harmony,” Moyo said.
The project also highlights a growing international partnership. The EP was mixed and mastered by Scotland-based producer and sound engineer Andrew “Blackie” Black, whom the group first met during its UK tour in 2024.
Sotsha recalled that Black was handling sound for one of their performances in Scotland when they struck up a friendship.
“We liked his understanding of our music. He also liked our show. We connected very well and that led to us asking him if he could be interested in producing some of our work. Thank God he agreed and did a wonderful job in mixing and mastering this EP,” he said.
After more than four decades in the industry, Black Umfolosi has performed across Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Australia, becoming one of Zimbabwe’s most travelled music groups.
For Sotsha, however, one of the group’s proudest achievements has been helping keep imbube music alive and inspiring a new generation of performers.
“We have been to all continents and have been well received everywhere we go,” he said.
He is encouraged by the growing number of young groups embracing the genre.
“To lovers of imbube, I want to assure you that imbube music is here to stay. As we look around today, we see a lot of young upcoming imbube groups all over. It is a cause for celebration and a humbling moment on our part as we are one of the pioneers in the idea of reviving and promoting it,” he said.
As Black Umfolosi prepares to take to British stages once again, the tour is about more than entertaining audiences. It is another opportunity to showcase Zimbabwean culture and celebrate a musical tradition that has stood the test of time.
More than four decades after a group of school friends came together with a shared dream, Black Umfolosi continues to carry the spirit of imbube music to the world — proving that tradition still has a powerful place in modern music.
