adminNkosilathi Sinbanda Urban Beats
I stay 15 minutes from the city centre. Thanks to the kombis I use, there is unlimited music on board. That means I can listen to at least five songs on the way.Those who live on the outskirts of the city probably reach town having listened to a whole album.
It has become the norm for every kombi to play music or tune into the radio, usually at high volume. Maybe it is a requirement in the transport business.
We would not call it a kombi if there is no radio by the dashboard. The going urban trend is that every vehicle should have music.
Public transport operators have a soiled reputation but, they deserve applause. We commend the few that have kept their stereos on and entertained the commuting public.
Of late kombi crews are showing off their mantle in public entertainment, outshining one another. Commuters are lured by music. The best playing sound systems win the heart of a traveller.
No wonder some people, especially our urban women will only use a kombi that plays music. It is the urban culture. Kombis that employ music entertainment are more like clubs and radio stations.
In some cities musicians launch albums in kombis. A close example is in Harare. On one of my trip to the capital I was amazed by the creativity of some budding filmmakers. They market their works in kombis with video screens.
The impact is felt more on the music front. Kombis make music hits. They break new songs and act as career launch pads.
I have confessed many a time to close associates that I first heard of 3 Kings’ Seqamabhilidi and Khuxman’s Vumelani Sangoma in a kombi.
The fact that local kombi crews are obsessed with South African music, many of us thought 3 Kings were from Jozi.
Before some radio stations got hold of the single, it had gone viral in kombis. Maybe underground artistes dotted in the city’s ghettos will find this as an inspiration.
A musician’s popularity may drop on the radio charts but still command listenership and appreciation in the public transport system.
The timeless Soul Brothers, Amasololo, are on every kombi’s playlist. Rarely are they played on the radio.
Unfortunately others are still stuck in the dark ages. We still have kombis without sound systems. I bet these are in the of tray of the unroadworthy.
There is no painful road trip than one in a kombi without a sound or radio system.
A day’s journey becomes a horror. For a stressed passenger, a ride in a kombi without music is a sharp prick to the nerve.
It is an added luxury to get in a kombi with a working radio from Emganwini to the city centre. A quiet ride usually dampens a jolly spirit.
Who can dispute the fun and the relaxation of listening to the radio in public transport? There is an emotional attachment and gratification.
Sometimes the news bulletin is worth listening to in a car than at home. “I heard it while I was in a kombi”, I am sure you have heard someone saying this.
Suddenly, the musician that you vowed not to listen to is your favourite.
“These boys know how to sing hey?” a staunch hip hop fan may be heard commenting about Ndolwane songs played in a kombi.
But there is a downside to the beat pumping kombis. The trend has created animosity between passengers and kombi crews.
There are rude conductors and drivers who only play their favourite music. They forget music played in public has to be shared and understood by all.
Passengers are not allowed to request. You are not the owner. Yours is to simply pay and be a willing passenger.
There is a lot to observe when it comes to public transport and music.
Urbanites who share in the happenings in the public transport sector, know the gist. The kombis are our transport of “choice” and we just have to love them.
The conductors and their bogus equivalent — the touts are a necessary menace to interact with. Hate the tout and find your way to work on foot.
The worst is to endure a journey listening to trash music.
This is why the older generation is often let down by the younger conductor and driver. At the centre of misunderstanding is the high volume or the type of music played.
In this case music no longer serves its purpose as a unifier. Passengers and drivers often disagree on the volume and choice of music.
So, does music serve a purpose in public transport?
My response is on the affirmative. After all, every car, of whatever size, is manufactured with a radio system!
If played in the realm of entertainment, I see nothing wrong. At least the few kombi owners that know the value of music to the public will educate others.
From the experience of sorts I have had with kombis, music has inspired my journeys. I am not a loner in this. Fellow commuters nod their heads to the music, obviously in enjoyment.
Let the beat play in the kombi. The mind needs the therapy.
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