Online Reporter
Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday Life Reporter
IF one were to ask a random music fan in Bulawayo what distinguishes Band Fusion from Asaph, they would probably point to their clothes.
Sure, the two come from vastly different musical backgrounds.
Band Fusion are the quintessential Bulawayo band, with a strong leaning toward jazz, mbaqanga and other sounds rooted in the city and Africa at large.
Asaph, undoubtedly one of the country’s finest wordsmiths, is a child of hip-hop — the offspring of Afrika Bambaataa — whose wordplay would not sound out of place in the Bronx.
Those who have seen them perform live, however, might insist that it is their gear, not their sound that sets them apart.
Asaph, with his snazzy caps and stylish baggy jeans, seems worlds away from Band Fusion, whose immaculate suits evoke hazy pubs where seasoned men sip whisky while listening to jazz.
At face value, nothing seems capable of bringing these two together.
From their attire to their artistic expression, they appear to inhabit different worlds. Yet Band Fusion have never hidden their pride in being Bulawayo-born. Over the years, casual observers have wondered what a collaboration between these two luminaries might sound like.
The answer has finally arrived with the upcoming release of the band’s latest single, “Musikana Akanaka” — a collaboration that bridges generations, genres and audiences.
In many ways, the project represents the best of both worlds.
It fuses Band Fusion’s rich live instrumentation and Afrocentric roots with Asaph’s lyrical dexterity and contemporary appeal.
The result is neither a Band Fusion track featuring a rapper nor an Asaph song backed by a live band.
Instead, it is a meeting point, a conversation between generations, audiences and sounds, proving that some of the most exciting musical journeys begin when artists dare to step outside their comfort zones.
For Band Fusion, the collaboration is part of a deliberate effort to expand their musical horizons while remaining true to the Afrocentric identity that has earned them a loyal following.
“We are mostly known as a live Afrocentric cover band and we do all types of music, but we are mostly associated with mature events and audiences. With our original songs, we are experimenting with sounds to find ourselves.
Since this is our second single, we are trying to discover what really works for us without losing the brand we have built,” said drummer and key band member Lungile “Luigi” Ndlovu.
Ndlovu explained that Asaph was the natural choice when the band began searching for a collaborator who could help them connect with a broader audience.
“You will find that the decision to work with Asaph came naturally. He has a mature hip-hop audience, but at the same time, his music cuts across the divide to reach younger listeners. We wanted a bit of that market too.”
“When we first had the idea for the song, it just flowed. You get a melody, then we all work on the chorus and everything else, shaping it toward the sound we want — but with live instruments. The idea was to create a unique sound that appeals to everyone, both mature and younger audiences,” he said.
The collaboration also reflects the band’s growing awareness of the diversity within their audience.
“That is clear when you consider that we have realised our audience is quite varied. At events, we perform for Ndebele, Shona and English-speaking audiences, as well as diverse groups of people in different settings. That is why our first single had a rich sound, but now we have tapped into the commercial space.
“We are trying to enter the commercial space, but we have also chosen to do this particular project entirely in ChiShona. The reason is to cater to everyone within our following. So we are slowly growing, experimenting with different sounds and finding new ways to connect,” Ndlovu said.
Beyond the music, the project carries the weight of a friendship and mutual respect that stretches back years.
“We grew up with Asaph. I can say I am one of the people who witnessed his career from the very beginning, back in high school and it was the same for me. At some point, we were bound to work together and I felt he would be the perfect fit for this project.
“When you look at his journey — from being Kwanfire, to Kwan, to Asaph and now Asaph Africa — it has been a whole evolution. It has been humbling for him and we felt this was the right time to bring our worlds together and communicate one message of love,” he said.
For Ndlovu, one of the standout moments in the song comes from Asaph’s deeply personal contribution.
“If you listen to his lyrics, some of his bars are dedicated to his daughter and that was beautiful in the moment. It was a good experience because we merged two worlds and we hope to do more projects in that same direction in the future.”
For Asaph, the collaboration was less a leap into unfamiliar territory and more a continuation of a relationship years in the making.
“I have always known Lungile, the drummer and one of the key members of the band. We go way back to our early church days,” he said.
The rapper added that while jazz and hip-hop may seem like distant cousins on the musical family tree, they have always shared common ground.
“When it comes to our two sounds fusing together, we have performed at a few spots on an impromptu freestyle tip while they played. Hip-hop is poetry and it works really well with jazz if it is delivered right. I think they felt I’d deliver something solid.”
