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Nkululeko Nkala .
Trust me, this title is real. It has nothing to do with today being Foola��s Day. Maybe to just be on the safe side and not get a hiding from some people, I should maybe apologise for the rather bold title though I promise it has no intention of hurting anyone and borders on my care for the industry that we all love so much.
Last week Mokoomba made history by performing at the Apollo Theatre. Big up to the boys for flying the countrya��s flag high. Ita��s still a mystery how you can throw a stone for 100 metres and hit a person who has no idea who they are.
For the benefit of those who do not know, Mokoomba is one of Africaa��s most exciting young bands.
Mokoomba hails from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and they are vibrant, distinct combining their traditional Tonga and pan-African music cultures with dashes of Rap, Ska, Soukous and Afro-Cuban music. Their claim to fame was winning the inter-regional music crossroads held in Malawi in 2013. Since then they have been to every part of the world, playing to capacity audiences overseas.
What is the Apollo Theatre? The Apollo Theatre is situated in the Harlem neighbourhood of Manhattan, New York City. It is a music hall which is a noted venue for African-American performers. The theatre, which has a capacity of 1 506, was built in 1913-14. Notable performers whose careers started at the Apollo include Billie Holiday, James Brown, King Curtis , Diana Ross, Parliament-Funkadelic, Wilson Pickett, The Miracles, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Bobby Short, The Jackson 5, Patti LaBelle, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Ben E. King, Mariah Carey, The Isley Brothers, Lauryn Hill, Sarah Vaughan, Jazmine Sullivan, Ne-Yo, and Machine Gun Kelly. Now you see why it is huge that Mokoomba performed at that venue?
Anyway they were part of the Africa Now concert. This annual concert is a highlight of the Apolloa��s season, celebrates the best of todaya��s African music scene showcasing artists who have drawn from their roots for inspiration and transplanted them onto the global music landscape.
Back to our Bulawayo audiences. I swear we should have been called iziqholo. I have seen local artistes invest ten-fold into this industry, rehearsing, publicising and putting up shows. But over and over again they get the same result. Yes, same small audiences. I now understand why Majaivana left and you know what Majee, please do not heed the calls for your comeback, there is no appreciation for local products, at least not on the ground.
Jeys Marabinia��s new CD is a banger but how many people came to his launch? Raisedon Baya, TH Moyo and Memory Kumbota are making good theatre shows week in week out, but never a full house. Bulawayo please stand up.
We need your support as local artistes.
This week, Umkhathi theatre works are at Bulawayo Theatre and Award winning former Iyasa frontA� girl, Noma (Nkwali) Mkhwananzi is at the National Gallery in Bulawayo.
Online Reporter