adminMaMkhwananzi Beer Hall is situated in Bulawayo’s Old Lobengula suburb and was opened in 1972. The re-launch is part of Bulawayo City Council’s franchising programme of its beer halls and taverns.
Earlier on, jazz gurus Cool Crooners had played for a crowd that included Bulawayo mayor, Thaba Moyo, Highlanders chairman Peter Dube and musician Sandra Ndebele.
The Cool Crooners, backed by One Plus One Jazz Band, took the crowd down memory lane as they did dances like the “twist” and “get down” showing why they are one of the best jazz outfits in the country. They capped their performance with ever-popular Bhulugwe Lami.
In the evening Jeys belted tune-after-tune that kept the partisan crowd on their feet from 6pm until he ended his set at 10pm. He played songs from his new album Jeys at 40 such as Yamitha Kanjani, Ukhulu and Ukufa.
He also played songs from the album, Izenzo such as Julia and Mafikizolo. Jey’s dancers performed isitshikitsha, intshomane, ijuba and ihosana.
“Umoya wami umhlophe, ngikholise kabi mfanami. I would like to thank Jeys for coming to our neighbourhood and making our day. Bulawayo has talented musicians and his songs have relevance to the people,” said Lameck Nyoni from Old Lobengula after the show.
Another reveller, Sithokozile Sithole said she enjoyed her day and it was topped off by Jeys’ performance.
“I enjoyed my day and the re-launch of MaMkhwananzi was great. This is the first time we have experienced such entertainment in our neighbourhood,” she said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the show, director of MaMkhwananzi Beer Hall, Donald Mazwi Sibindi said he wanted to make the beer garden family-friendly.
He said the reason why he chose Jeys and Cool Crooners was because Old Lobengula had a mature audience that appreciated their music.
“Old Lobengula is a suburb of old people and that is why we chose the two acts. They can appreciate the music more. We want to move from the notion that a beer garden is synonymous with being a place of lurid activities. We want to make it a family environment,” said Sibindi.
He said as businesspeople it was their duty to look after the less fortunate in the community.
“This is the reason why we have adopted six children whose school fees we shall pay. We have also donated various food items to grandparents in the area. It is our duty as businesspeople to help in any way in the community,” said Sibindi, who donated bags of mealie-meal, cooking oil and packets of beans to grannies in Old Lobengula.
He commended council for franchising its beer halls.
After the show Jeys said it was encouraging to see fans appreciate his music and the show was a perfect example of how the corporate world could uplift the music industry in the city.
“We performed and it is encouraging to see people appreciate our music, and if it was not for them we would not have musical careers. This is a perfect example to show how businesspeople can support local artistes and we are very much capable to deliver when called to do so. We do not disappoint,” said Jeys.
He urged radio stations not to play South African songs to please the Matabeleland market but to play local music even if there are few songs.
“In South Africa it is not easy to be played on their radio stations, but here we give South African music prominence at the expense of our own. Even if the stations have six songs from the Matabeleland region they should play them because that is what is there. However, lately airplay has been better,” said Jeys.
Black Tigers who danced ingquzu, and Ezimnyama Dance group from Matshobana also performed highly exhilarating dances that left the crowd in stitches.
Online Reporter