adminNkosilathi Sibanda
When did you last listen to imbube?
Many of us who live in the city distaste the sound of some bands that have a connection to rural areas.It becomes so odd to find a man who grew up in the thicket of Tsholotsho but does not like a bit of Ndolwane Super Sounds or imbube music.
“Imbube is old-fashioned. It’s totally embarrassing to listen to such trash.” Oftentimes you would hear someone say this, not only about imbube but many other genres.
What is it about imbube? I will ask because I fail to understand how city folk find it hard to appreciate music that has stood the test of time, music that is a tradition.
I meet such people every day. They are obsessed with asking the village one comes from. For them a person has to have a rural home. Without a village background you are nothing.
Their egos are pumped up when they talk of their villages. Stories of farming, girlfriends and everything they do in the bush.
These men are now enjoying city life as they reminisce the village days. They forget and tend to turn a blind eye on the music that came from the villages.
Talk of Ndolwane Super Sounds, Ndux Malax and the many village influences bands is taboo to them. The city has made many a village born folks sulk at any music that connects to the “roots”.
I bet you have noticed this.
Hardly do they pay attention to local music charts. I am one of these people and many of you behave this way. Oh yeah, because we have a rural home, save for a few.
It is either we did not follow local content or just plain dumb to care about music from the villages.
We are well content with the UK top charts and the whole international junk loaded on our music players.
If you live in the City of Kings, bear in mind that imbube was the king’s chill pill. Here is a genre of acappela that is counted as a heritage in African societies.
But do you care to find time and listen?
The elderly will tell that in the 1980s and 1990s, radio used to be the ultra-accessory to own. Imbube groups were a common play. At a time when Zimbabweans were oppressed, imbube would spur hope and entertain at the same time. It was as educative as it is now.
Sadly, the music hit a low. A very steep dive and we forgot about it.
Where are these groups of the 1990s, Insingizi Emnyama, Black Umfolosi, Impumelelo Shining Stars, Qaphela Voice Sound, Izinkanyezi Zezulu Stars, Umdumo Wesizwe, among others?
If your father had not bought a Supersonic, you had to beg to listen from your neighbour’s. You felt something missing if Black Umfolosi did not play on a certain radio programme.
Uncomfortable it was, but it was worth listening to your favourite imbube group, even if your father disapproved of you going next door.
Now, having forgotten our music — especially village rooted, we think we know it all. It is painful for the younger generation whose elders were swallowed by city life. Who else has to introduce the young to Black Umfolosi?
Children who do not know anything about imbube should blame their parents. Why should one deprive the future of knowledge about music that made up village entertainment?
I used to attach imbube to a certain class of society. Where I grew up, imbube was all to do with the guy from the growth point; our fellows with a strong rural background. The ones we call in hushed voices as the SRB. If you owned any imbube vinyl or cassette, you definitely came from Filabusi, Tsholotsho, Madlambudzi or Kezi.
This is not meant to offend anyone, but it is one observation shared by many who were born and bred in urban streets.
My view of imbube has changed. I enjoy the music. I follow Black Umfolosi and can recite many of their songs. Who has not heard the timeless Unity?
City life would not accept people who dance to imbube. That perception has to change.
A friend invited me to Sabela Bar by Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel and I was taken aback. There on stage was Black Umfolosi, the grand gurus of harmonic music. I got to learn that the group wants to revive imbube.
Great idea! I liked that they are doing it at a hotel. The place might not be ideal for some city men and women who hate imbube but Black Umfolosi is stopping at nothing.
The aim is to entertain and educate. Not only do imbube music followers get to enjoy but visitors to Bulawayo will leave with a story to tell — the story of imbube.
No other music genre comes close to educating in the form of entertainment as imbube. There is no bubblegum song with imbube.
It happens every Friday night, when Black Umfolosi revives their style.
With the boring order in the city’s night life, listening to imbube is a better start to the weekend. Would you prefer dancing to disco than live entertainment? Make a date and you might share the experience on this space.
Feedback:
Our last conversation left many readers thinking. Of which, that is the intention — to keep you talking about music. I cannot pull all the comments but every conversation is appreciated.
l I wonder what is to be done to save the face of our music in Bulawayo. The people of Bulawayo are favouring music from Bambazonke and snubbing our own sons and daughters. Bulawayo wake up and smell the coffee. — Ndaba in Lobengula, 0774 784 739
Keep the beats on. WhatsApp 0773 481 603 or meet this writer on twitter@nkosi legend
Online Reporter