adminKwela Music is a type of jazz genre that emerged around the early 1950s and 60s being played regularly at beer gardens in the City of Bulawayo.
Members of the band were born in the mid 40s and 50s. Their music is widely influenced by many groups and individuals such as Spokes Mashiane, Lemmy Special and many other bands, which originated from South African townships.
In a statement, Alliance Française de Harare said Bulawayo Kwela has over the years been playing individually and in duets.
“They have over the years been playing in Bulawayo’s hot-spot beer gardens like Madlodlo, Big Bhawa and Manwele, around Mzilikazi and Makokoba townships, where Albert Nyathi fished them,” Alliance Française said.
Nyathi will perform with them as a guest artist.
Most of the members come from a group called Jazz Impacto, which used to perform with Paul Lunga who is now based in the UK. They are now called Tata Mojo Band and they are a resident band at Bulawayo Athletic Club. They also play at a number of clubs in the city.
The group has Thompson Banda (pennywhistle), Marko Sithole (pennywhistle), Joyce Nkomo (vocals), Ramsey Kasawaya (vocals), John Gumbo (guitar), Killa Phiri (bass guitar), Charles Sibanda (drums) and Herbert Ndlovu (saxophone).
“This show will take you down memory lane, and back in retrospect, and missing it means missing a family show of a lifetime. Come expecting fireworks, exclusivity, and something unique,” reads the statement.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter