adminBongani Ndlovu Entertainment Correspondent
NOBUNTU, a five member all female imbube group from Bulawayo, launched its debut 10 track album at a colourful ceremony at the Indaba Book Café.The launch of the album Thina was held on Saturday.
The group has decided to emulate its male counterparts such as much travelled, Black Umfolosi in singing the traditional genre imbube.
Artistes including Majahawodwa “Jeys Marabini” Ndlovu, Intwasa Director Raisedon Baya and Butjilo Nleya came out to support the young artistes.
Clad in traditional African dresses the girls took to the stage and belted out acappella tunes that had an imbube feel to a packed Indaba Book Café.
The group showed their talent on the microphone as they got the crowds up on their feet with traditional songs that ignited traditional dances such as ingquzu and isitshikitsha.
Some of the tracks on the album include the popular gospel chorus Ma Ebizwa’ magama and Usibali uyashweleza.
The five member group comprises Heather Dube (24), Duduzile Sibanda (27), Claire Dangarembwa (23), Siphiwe Dube, (29) and Joylene Sibanda (24).
In an interview, one of the group’s members, Duduzile said they realised that there was no female imbube group in Bulawayo and in the country.
“We realised that the genre we are doing, imbube, is not common for women. We then decided to sing imbube and have something that is challenging,” said Duduzile.
She said Nobuntu drew its inspiration from groups such as South African mbaqanga group, Mahotela Queens.
“Our inspiration is drawn from Mahotela Queens and Mahlathini. Those women are powerful and their mbaqanga music is Afrocentric, timeless and we want to emulate these ladies,” said Duduzile.
She said every group member composed songs on the album.
“Everyone is a composer; we do not depend on one person to compose songs on the album. That is why our music is diverse, we touch on all the issues that affect society,” said Duduzile.
She said Nobuntu looks forward to having a bright and successful future in the music industry.
“We are fulltime musicians. We dropped everything that we were doing and decided to dedicate all our time to music. We want to treat making music as a job and that is the attitude if one wants to succeed,” said Duduzile.
The five member group, founded last year in November has left many impressed after their performances. Nobuntu specialises in various genres, gospel, jazz, reggae, traditional, folk and soul.
The album was produced by Insingizi member Dumisani Ramadu Moyo at 10th District Music Studios. Nobuntu performed at the Bulawayo Cultural Festival in April. They are expected to perform at this year’s Intwasa Festival next week.
Online Reporter