adminFairness Moyana Sunday Leisure Correspondent
BERNADO Ndlovu, leader of Hwange based sungura outfit, Ndangwena Flash Wave Band has vowed to put the Nambya language and culture on the map in the music circles in an attempt to revive the legacy left by the late Christopher Shoko. Shoko was instrumental in the preservation and recognition of the Nambya language which is only spoken in Hwange district in Matabeleland North province through music. The music which he recorded with Grammar Records and featured hits such as Bupenyu was well received by the general public as evidenced by the generous airplay on all national radio stations.
With a record number of changes to a band name, Bernado said even the sky would not limit him in pursuance of his music career adding he was determined to put Hwange on the country’s musical map.
Born in 1964 to a Shangani father and a Lozwi mother, Bernado started off his musical career in 1992 by forming a six-member band which he named Mosi-oa-Tunya Musical Sounds. The group which was formed when he was fresh out of school started off by playing copyrights, mainly Bob Marley music but was to later clinch a recording deal with Bulawayo based producer Rob Austin Records in 1993.
The album which was titled Family Planning did not do well as it lacked marketing leading to the split of the band with some members joining the late Shoko.
“After our first recording which unfortunately did not do well the band split and conflict arose over the change of the name so we decided to change it to Hwange Express. Our recording which comprised four Nambya songs and one each in Shona and Tonga was a flop because it lacked promotion,” said the charismatic Bernado.
In 1994, the group was hit by another split which saw him left alone. Undeterred Bernado forged ahead by assembling another group which he named Jambezi Express and they managed to record six songs in Nambya with Sizwangendaba Ncube who now leads Kwejani Band, a remnant of Christopher Shoko’s band.
Jambezi Express got the attention of people as other bands with 1.2 Battalion loaning the group instruments to perform live shows around the province.
The group suffered another setback in 1995 when it lost three of its talented members, rhythm guitarist Lawrence “Bibojo” Nkomazana, drummer Sakhala Mwape and Pius Ncube the bass guitarist to Christopher Shoko who was riding on the musical rollercoaster.
He was again forced to go solo after the second album which was also a flop and which led to an exodus of the band members.
“I lost almost all the band members to Shoko who was gaining popularity. My second album never sold resulting in me embarking on a solo project. In 2002 after going solo for some years, I assembled another group which participated in the Chibuku Road to Fame competitions where we came third. This gave us courage and we gained experience.”
That feat propelled them forward and the group went back into the studio in 2006 and recorded another six track album titled Gogogo. The Grammar Records produced album featured one Tonga and five Nambya songs which highlighted the suffering of communities at the height of the economic hardships.
The group was the only local act which played alongside the late Tongai Moyo when he staged a show in Hwange a few months before his death. The group has never looked back since then following their latest offering Gunda na Ntengwe which includes songs such as Corruption which highlights the cancerous effects of corruption. The five-track album features songs like Ushe Ibeta, Chapita, Seiko and Chipimo which encourages HIV patients to seek treatment instead of claiming that they are being bewitched.
The group comprise Clayton Kapfupi (drums), Katongo Sakala (rhythm guitar) while Bernard Leonarto and Alberto Tekere Sithole are on the bass guitar.
Bongani Ndlovu