adminBongani Ndlovu Entertainment Correspondent
BULAWAYO house music outfit House Rebels have been invited to rub shoulders with the world’s biggest house music producers, DJs and singers at this year’s Miami Winter Conference in the US. The conference will take place from March 21 to 30 at the Miami Beach in Florida. The three member group comprising Mqondisi “Skaiva” Sibanda, Paul “Mzoe 7” Mlauzi and Brian “Rakeem” Bangura are the first Zimbabwean group to perform at the Winter Conference.
Speaking to Saturday Leisure, Skaiva said they got recognition after their track Godobori was played on ZiFM’s The Link to Bulawayo hosted by Gibson Ncube.
He said after the track was played someone from the United Kingdom requested for it to be licensed to him after hearing them on live streaming.
“Someone in the UK heard the song and requested to license and release the song internationally. Whilst still waiting for documentation, the call from Miami came through and the guy said he had just received a sample of our song Godobori and he said he had a proposal. He asked how many songs we have and if we would be interested in performing at this year’s Miami Conference.
“We honestly couldn’t believe it and we don’t know if the UK based contact had something to do with this or not, but what we know is that, if Gibson had not played Godobori on ZiFM, we would not be going to Miami,” said Skaiva.
His compatriot Mzoe 7 said they could not believe the opportunity that they were afforded.
“At first when we got the news via a phone call, we thought it was a prank but when all the documentation was sent to our manager, it hit home that it was real,” he said.
His music partner Skaiva said: “We have been in the music industry for almost six years and we have never stopped working hard, neither did we stop believing that our music was destined for great heights. This is not only our joy but it is also our city Bulawayo and our country’s joy to share with. We will be out there flying the Zim flag high. It’s a very proud moment for us,” he said.
According to House rebels, they are set to officially release the video of Godobori on social media platforms tonight. The video produced by Vusa “Blaqs” Hlatshwayo tries to remind people of their cultural values instead of invented cultural beliefs that have taken away our spirit of “ubuntu”. The video shows two troubled young men travelling in search for a godobori as they want to know the culture and ways of their forefathers.
The Bulawayo outfit is following in the footsteps of their South African counterparts, the likes of DJs Fresh, Euphonik, Black Coffee, Culoe De Song and Oskido who have been regular attendees of the conference.
Established in 1985, the Winter Miami Conference is in its 29th consecutive year and is one of the most publicised annual music gathering in the world. The conference attracts thousands of artistes, music industry delegates from 70 countries and over 100,000 event attendees each year for a concentrated schedule of more than 500 events, parties, seminars and workshops.
Online Reporter