Hope for Bulawayo music

Nkululeko Nkala

Our music has been called all names under the sun.

From hopeless, not nice, boring and not catchy, you name it.

I think that has been going on for too long, most of us were even starting to believe there is no hope.

Talk to a local about local music, at best you would get a frown. Play anything from outside of Bulawayo, you are assured of at least a dance floor packed.

Here is what I found out a�� the problem is not the music but the attitude of our people towards anything made in Bulawayo.

Why do I say so? We put up shows in their numbers and they just trickle in, with most of the audience being artistes watching artistes.

Put a Harare or South African act, ita��s almost always a stampede. The Bulawayo Music carnival was an eye opener for me.

It was good to see that many local people, come specifically for the locals. Many a times when local acts are featured in shows it usually ends with either boos or beer cans being thrown on stage.

Last Saturday was totally refreshing because no one expected anything but they got surprised.

Maybe before I go any further, I should give it up to the organisers for believing in the local lot. The stage was amazing, sound brilliant. There was even a big screen and a VIP section. Those numbers must have surprised many, but I think had the event been publicised much earlier, records would have been broken.

Posters went up just a week before, social media got excited just a few days before. Had the event been planned with a month to spare, I am certain Hartsfield would have been a sea of people.

The lineup was not bad all. It could have done with a little Ndolwane or Magwaza and 1 or 2 white and Indian folk to balance up the audience. Give some sort of ownership to Bulawayo. Most genres where covered but the buy in of Jeys Marabini, Khuxman and Martin Ndolwane would have made even the corporates jump in.

I was so happy that one of my favourite Imbube groups Umdumo Wesizwe had a chance to showcase their Gusheshe Music. Siyaya Arts showed that traditional music is not boring. Mjox of Emafletsini studios showed why he is one of the best in the City by putting up a top drawer performance. I swear if Mjox was from South Africa or living there he would be living in a glass mansion driving 6 cars. Just glad the audience gave him an ear. Asaph is in a league of his own, he was born to Rap. Anti-Virus are back, minus Ricco, but still slaying. Family Voices who have been silent for a while are still a group and still belting out those Harmonies.

Sandra Ndebele (ABOVE) still gets the attention of the people. Many acts took turns to perform, DJs too. I still wish our DJs could mix and play around with local music, that way our music will grow. DJ Liz is fast growing and is the DJ to look out for.

So the battle has been won, but the war is far from over. We need full houses and local heroes. Art should start paying, be the industry ita��s meant to be. Many prophets prophesied a flop/disaster. They all ate their words. There is hope for local music. All thata��s needed is to march ahead as a unit. The promoters, musicians, fans and media. Salute to all the local journalists who keep pushing local arts. Until next week, be safe . . .