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In early 2000 the group like others that were into imbube music lost its popularity following the introduction of new genres of music that came from countries like South Africa.
Saturday Leisure recently caught up with Oscar Siziba, the leader of Impumelelo Shining Stars and took the opportunity to interview him.
Siziba said his group was formed on 7 May 2001 back in Gwanda in Chief Mathema’s area.
“When we formed this group with Coaster Ncube back in Gwanda we called ourselves Inqamayithi as we both come from a place called Enqameni in Gwanda,” he said.
Siziba said during that time they used to sing different songs in an acapella style as it was popular in their home area.
“Our group was so popular in Gwanda that in that very year that we formed it, we decided to relocate to Bulawayo,” he said.
Siziba said in Bulawayo they met stiff competition from groups that included Imbizo and Sunduza.
“When we got to Bulawayo we realised that we had exposed ourselves to stiff competition and for us to survive we had to work even harder,” he said.
Siziba said in 2002 they decided to change their name to Impumelelo Shining Stars, as some of their members were now Christians.
“When we got to Bulawayo, Coaster joined ZAOGA church.
“From there we all followed and this forced us to change the name of the group and the type of songs.
“We started singing gospel music as all of us were now Christians,” said Siziba.
He said soon after re-branding, the group recorded five albums and these are Emthonjeni, Umhlaba uyajikajika, Uhlaleleni and Nomalanga.
“The stiff competition from groups in Bulawayo actually inspired us to work very hard and we managed to record five albums in a short period of time,” he said.
In 2006, Joseph Shabalala, the leader of Black Mambazo, invited the group to visit South Africa to attend some workshops.
Siziba said it was unfortunate that in 2008 some members of Impumelelo Shining Stars broke away to form their own group.
Online Reporter