Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu [email protected]
WHEN revered Zimbabwean traditional song and dance ensemble Black Umfolosi embarks on its month-long United Kingdom tour this July, audiences will not only experience the group’s celebrated live performances but will also witness the launch of its latest studio offering, “Sukuma/Get Up” — an album whose sonic polish bears the touch of Scotland-based musician, producer and sound engineer Andrew “Blackie” Black.
For Black, whose career has largely revolved around live sound engineering and studio production in Scotland, working on Black Umfolosi’s 14th studio album was far more than another recording project.
It became an opportunity to collaborate with a group he has admired for decades.
His latest encounter with the internationally-acclaimed ensemble came two years ago when the group visited CatStrand, a rural community arts centre in southern Scotland.
“My recent meeting with Black Umfolosi was July 2024, when they came to CatStrand, a small rural community venue/arts centre in the south of Scotland. They were to present singing workshops and an evening concert,” Black recalled.
As the venue’s resident sound technician, he was responsible for setting up the sound system and ensuring everything ran smoothly during rehearsals and the concert.
“I am the regular tech at CatStrand so I set up the sound equipment and sorted out the sound for the performers at soundcheck. I found them easy to work with and very professional.”
The meeting rekindled memories of an earlier encounter that stretched back approximately three decades.
“After the concert, we all ate together and had a chance to talk more informally. I told them that this was not my first meeting with Black Umfolosi, I had been providing sound equipment at an acapella week in England where Black Umfolosi were performing. This would have been in the region of 30 years ago. Some of the current line up were there.”
Those two meetings, though separated by decades, left him with remarkably similar impressions of the group.
“So, my two first impressions were very similar experiences.”
Following the Scottish performance, Black shared several of his own studio recordings with the ensemble. It was not long before an unexpected invitation arrived.
“I had given Black Umfolosi some of my studio albums to listen to out of interest. When they got in touch to ask if I would like to mix ‘Sukuma/Get up’, I was pleased and excited.”
The recordings had already been captured in Bulawayo by Godwin “Smallz” Ndlovu of Elephant Herd Records before being sent thousands of kilometres away to Scotland for mixing and mastering.
For Black, the geographical distance presented an unusual but fascinating working experience.
“Working on the album was interesting. It was a little strange for me to hear the recordings made so far away. Mostly, I’m mixing tracks that I have recorded on my own equipment. Occasionally, I would hear a bit of background noise from Zimbabwe in gaps in the recordings.”
Despite working remotely, he said the quality of the performances made the production process immensely rewarding.
“All I can say is that it was a pleasure and a priviledge to work on the beautiful arrangements of the songs on ‘Sukuma/Get up.’ As I say, I have been aware of the group for a lot of years.”
His admiration for Zimbabwean music stretches well beyond Black Umfolosi.
“I have a copy of ‘Umdlalo’ from our first meeting. I know the music of The Bundu Boys and Thomas Mapfumo.”
While recordings allow music to travel across continents, Black believes nothing compares to experiencing artistes in person.
“Getting the live experience of any music is more direct than any recording so meeting the artistes live is always going to enhance the experience.”
His own journey into professional audio began on stage rather than behind a mixing desk.
“My background is in live sound which I got into by working the equipment for bands I played in initially. I have recorded and mixed a number of albums.”
That practical grounding proved invaluable in shaping ‘Sukuma/Get up’, a five-track project that continues Black Umfolosi’s four-decade legacy of preserving and promoting Zimbabwe’s rich mbube tradition.
The album features songs including Ngiyavuma, Malambane and Nguye Njalo, among others, blending the group’s trademark vocal harmonies with messages rooted in hope, perseverance and renewal.
Named after the IsiNdebele word meaning “Get Up” or “Stand Up”, Sukuma reflects on resilience, rebuilding, rebirth and reconstruction – themes that have become synonymous with Black Umfolosi’s remarkable 41-year journey.
Having witnessed profound changes in the music industry, technology and society over more than four decades, the ensemble uses its 14th studio album to encourage listeners to embrace growth, whether personal or professional, and to refuse to remain defeated by life’s challenges.
For Blackie, the opportunity to help shape the sound of one of Zimbabwe’s most celebrated cultural ambassadors was not simply another production credit – it was, in his own words, both “a pleasure and a privilegde.” – Follow on X@MbuleloMpofu
