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Kiyapili Sibanda, Sunday Life Correspondent
WHEN South Africa’s Zodwa Wabantu burst into the entertainment scene, she was hot property. She was the ‘‘IT’’ girl in the entertainment circles and promoters were after her services because she brought a new style in the industry with her raunchy dance moves which left men asking for more.
She was once booked in Zimbabwe and left a mark there before being banned to perform in the country by the then Government as they cited that it was against the country’s culture and norms.
Zodwa Wabantu managed to make her name in the lucrative South African industry and was romped in to Ezase Afro — an entertainment company owned by the renowned DJ Tira. She was put under his management and that’s where she struck gold, charging R35 000 per performance and went on to buy herself a R2,5 million house. That was Zodwa Wabantu for you and at present her fans are still asking what happened to her once promising career or is she waiting to grace the silver screen as she once said she was considering to quit vosho dance and start acting.
In Zimbabwe, particularly in Bulawayo we had our own version of Zodwa Wabantu, Trinity Sibanda. She rose to fame after being voted the best imitator of South African entertainer Zodwa Wabantu. Due the once found fame she changed her name to Trino Bambina and went on to open a Facebook page for her fans and that’s what fame does to people who are caught unaware by it.
Due to her sudden popularity Trino Bambina some companies offered her endorsements deals to support her “craft”. Companies like Food Lovers Market, The Rack, Clinique Caress, Rapid Car Sales, Red Cafe, Club 263 and Umqombothi were seen trying to boost the fame of the Zodwa Wabantu imitator.
The then Club Connect spokesperson, Zandile Moyo who were hosting Zodwa Wabantu once said they were trying to promote a culture of socialites in the city that’s why they were promoting Trino Bambina.
“People should develop this culture of being socialites in the city. They should be the life of the party and whenever they walk into the nightclub their presence should be felt. We want to cultivate that,” said Moyo.
The question is what happened to Trino the socialite or the city does not have the calibre to have its socialites. Did those companies manage to uplift her after the Zodwa Wabantu appearance in the city? These are some of the questions people ask themselves up to this time.
Sunday Life managed to track down Bulawayo’s Zodwa Wabantu “twin” to see what she is doing or what transpired to the then faded fame. It seems it was not looking good for the once off Bulawayo socialite.
The Zodwa Wabantu imitator refused to shed light to what happened to her career and portrayed arrogance when asked to comment on the issue.
“Phela mina lawe asobangane (Me and you we’re not friends, isn’t it?). So why would I tell you whatever is going on with my life? I’ve got nothing to say to you and whatever I am doing is none of your business. It will help you to leave that article and look for another one,” she vented.
It’s is not looking good for Zodwa Wabantu “twin” and her Facebook fan page speaks for itself. The fan page Trino Bambino has got a paltry 195 likes, she last posted on 30 December 2018 and there were no comments at all. Until now she has never updated or posted on her page and it actually means that she was a once-off socialite in the city.
Online Reporter