Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu
IN June 2009, the rural village of Ngwana, Plumtree, Matabeleland South saw the forming of the Tanga Pasi Music Project with Sinini Ngwenya leading the charge and enlisting the help of Pamela Ngwenya (harmonica and other mouth organs), Blessing Shamu (bass guitar), Phathisani Moyo (keyboard) and Caleb Dube (drums).
Seventeen years later, the visionary behind that grassroots collective has returned from the UK to reconnect with his roots and launch his reggae album, “Smile”, while announcing an ambitious nationwide tour.
Ngwenya, who relocated to the United Kingdom several years ago, touched down in Zimbabwe with a mission: to share a decade of musical evolution distilled into a 10-track masterpiece. The album, meticulously mastered and engineered by legendary producer Clive Mono Mukundu, fuses Kalanga and Ndebele folk traditions with contemporary reggae rhythms – a signature blend Ngwenya dubs, “NuAfrow.”
This sound, he explains, is a tribute to the cultural prowess of his Matabeleland upbringing.
Since his arrival, Ngwenya has been immersed in creative fervour, directing four music videos for tracks from the album. These visuals, he emphasises, are not mere accompaniments but vital extensions of the album’s soul.
“They capture the emotion, message, and cultural authenticity embedded in the music.”
For Ngwenya, returning home has been emotional.
“Being home reminded me who I truly am. The love, the people, the energy, it recharged my spirit. Leaving again for the UK is not easy; my heart is heavy. But this time, I leave inspired, carrying the voices of home with me. More work is coming. More impact. Home has lit a new fire in me.”
Having performed across South Africa, Germany, Eswatini, Zambia, Dubai, Ireland, Tanzania, and Botswana, the globetrotting artiste now turns his focus homeward.
