adminI am a product of Sobukhazi High School’s positive attitude towards arts and culture. I was introduced to drama and performance while in Form Three decades ago. When I enrolled at the school the drama club had a good reputation. Most of its plays were watched by half the school. The teacher in charge of drama then was Mr Butho Ngwenya. He had another reputation. He was a no nonsense teacher whose passion for both drama and academic excellence was widely known. A year or so after Mr Butho Ngwenya left for Botswana and another drama enthusiast Mr Tony Magagula took over. (I have never called him by his first name till now.) He was our literature teacher. First he made us fall in love with literature such that we sang lines from Shakespeare way before we sat for our literature exams. He then introduced us to drama as a performing art. Since then it has been my first love. But I am not a member of Insingizi.
Sobukhazi High has produced many artistes who are still active many years after leaving school. Unfortunately, many of us never acknowledge where we started. I know several artistes like Simon Mambazo Phiri of Siyaya Arts and Insingizi passed through Sobukhazi High. In fact this article is about Insingizi and their upcoming new album. I thought it appropriate to talk about the school where the group was founded before I talk about their upcoming album. Insingizi is proudly a Zimbabwean music group raised discovered at Sobukhazi but raising the Zimbabwean flag across Europe.
Here is what they say about their name. “Insingizi’s name is derived from the African ground hornbill bird whose call can be heard at a distance of up to 3 kilometres away. The bird’s loud voice and large size have made it a focal point in many traditional African cultures; for some it became the symbol of the arrival of the rainy season whose anticipation is welcome as a joyous occasion in the village.”
Like their namesake Insingizi’s music can been heard miles away from where they are now based in Austria.
The group is set to release a new album entitled African Harmonies. The new album comes after their two critically acclaimed CDs, Voices of Southern Africa Volumes 1 and 2. According to a press statement posted by the group African Harmonies is the group’s “thank you” dedicated to their friends and fans that have been there for them since the beginning. African Harmonies is performed in English and Ndebele in 3-part harmonies. Since the North American release of their first Album, Voices of Southern Africa, which went gold with over 250 000 copies sold, the group has toured extensively and in the process winning France’s Prix France Musique du Monde 2010. The Radio France World Music Award has put made them one of the most successfully music groups to come out of Bulawayo, and perhaps Zimbabwe in general.
Reminder
Insingizi started as a high school project. To be specific it started at Sobukhazi High. After school the project continued with the main members that now remain; Vusa Mkhaya Ndlovu, Dumisani Ramadu Moyo and Blessings No Nkomo. They have gone on to do amazing work that includes collaborations with Austrian musician Rolland Guggenbichler. The group regularly performs with Dutch blues guitarist Hans Theessink.
African Harmonies is a vocal journey through the issues facing modern Zimbabwe and what Africa means to the song writers. The album includes songs of celebration and also warnings to political leaders to make sure they keep on the path to positive change.
Online Reporter