Music fest for Filabusi folks

Lungile Tshuma, Sunday Leisure Correspondent
FILABUSI seeks to become the country’s leading hub of traditional and gospel music, as artistes from the area have lined up a number of musical concerts to remind people of their roots.

The musical groups, Imbizo Traditional Group, Monica and Abafana bakoGodlwayo ezikaDibi, all based in South Africa have already started walking the talk, as they recently gave people of Filabusi a memorable Christmas through a live performance at Vokola Business Centre at a festival dubbed Vuka Godlwayo.

The festival was a hive of activity, with imbube outfits such as Imbizo leaving the crowd frenzied from their electric performances.

In an interview with the group, Mandla Khumalo, the group’s spokesperson said they had been short changing the community by not performing in their home.

“We are happy to be home and the treatment we got surprised us because we never thought that we are highly appreciated like this. Our goal as from 2016 is to hold musical concerts in the district at least twice a year as a way of appreciating the role the community played in nurturing us,” said Khumalo.

Monica Ncube a gospel artiste who also hails from Filabusi and is based in South Africa said it was high time people retrace their roots.

“As artistes we have a role to play in the development of this country. In everything we do, we must put God first so that He can guide us. I am confident that 2016 is going to be a great year for Filabusi and the nation at large. I am looking forward to returning home and singing for the revival of many souls,” she said.

The event organiser — Bhekimpilo Maranda Sithole said the stance which has been taken by artistes to revive music in the district was welcome as music was a unifying element.

Imbizo was formed in 1991 from a group of high school pupils from Dekezi High School and have toured Europe extensively participating in internationally acclaimed festivals like World of Music Arts and Dance Festival (WOMAD), Glastonbury, Sidmouth International Festival and Africa Oye.

Similarly, Abafana bakoGodlwayo are very popular in South Africa for their Maskandi music, while Monica who sings gospel has a fair feat with Joyous Celebrations as well as Derrick Ndzimande in South Africa.