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Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
LAST week, South Africa’s Mi Casa and Zimbabwe’s Ammara Brown and Tehn Diamond converged in Bulawayo to record a song together at Ingwe Studios.
Although details of what the song will be about are still sketchy with all camps mum, the trio spent hours in the studio working on the song.
“We’re still in the preliminary stages of the song. We’re yet to sit down and discuss what we’ll use the song for or how and when it’ll be released. I think in a month, we’ll have a clearer picture,” said Tsungi Zvobgo, Ammara’s manager.
Zenzele Ndebele, co-owner of Ingwe Studios, said the collabo was an acknowledgment that the studio could produce music of international quality.
Situated in the leafy suburb of Hillside, Ingwe Studios has recorded albums for artistes such as all-female acapella group Nobuntu, afro jazz musician Jeys Marabini and Mas’kandi musician Tshwalabenyoni. The studio is also used for recording episodes of comedic cartoon strip The Bulawayo Show. With two studios on the premises — two live recording areas and a vocal booth, the studio has instruments that include guitars and amps among many others.
“This is testimony that there’s a studio in Bulawayo that’s capable of producing music of international quality. If Mi Casa, Ammara and Tehn Diamond can converge at our studios and use the facilities to record, there’s no excuse from other artistes to produce poor quality music,” said Ndebele.
He said artistes should take it upon themselves to create quality music and collaborate with foreign artistes.
“Bulawayo artistes should take the initiative and stop complaining of not getting opportunities and create their own. No one owes them anything and no one will do them favours and life only rewards those who work hard.”
For years, local artistes especially those in Bulawayo have been bemoaning the fact that some local promoters do not want to facilitate recording time with international artistes, describing them as wolves in sheep’s clothing. The promoters have however shot back saying they did not owe anyone a favour and were businesspeople who want to make a profit at the end of the day. Some of the promoters have said some international acts were not interested in doing collabos with local musicians.
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