Online Reporter
Mkhululi Ncube, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
IT was worth the wait! After a long hiatus, Rhumba legend Martin “The Big Boss” Sibanda has released his much-anticipated fourth solo album titled Bhek’Ubone and fans have warmly embraced it as an instant hit.
Rhumba music is incomplete without the name Ndolwane Super Sounds and Bhek’Ubone affirms that enduring legacy. Known affectionately as Induna to his fans, The Big Boss has once again proven his place in the pantheon of
Rhumba greats with an album that blends nostalgia, depth and social commentary.
His album releases have been spaced over the years, and each drop is treasured by fans. Bhek’Ubone, which comes following his 2021 release, Kuyavuma, is no exception. Released over the weekend in South Africa, the album has propelled followers into musical ecstasy and it is easy to understand why.
While many of today’s Rhumba artistes have gravitated towards faster-paced, dance-floor-centric beats, Martin Sibanda has stayed true to the original Ndolwane Super Sounds signature, a relaxed, melodic groove that won over fans from the 1990s, starting with the band’s breakthrough album, Africa. His voice, mellow and seasoned like aged wine, remains one of the genre’s most captivating.
The album, underpinned by the deep and unmistakable basslines of Obert “Isangoma SeBass” Vundla, showcases the timeless synergy between experience and musical integrity.
Though some fans may be disappointed that the album features only five songs instead of the usual six, the quality more than compensates for the quantity.
The opening track, Bhek’Ubone, is a prayerful lamentation that pleads for divine intervention in a violent and broken world.
“Abantwabethu abasakhuzeki ngoba bahlome ngezikhali…” (“Our children cannot be rebuked anymore because they are armed”), sings the Bakhuzeni hitmaker, setting a sombre yet powerful tone.
In Debwghee, sung in Kalanga, The Big Boss champions hard work and the responsible use of God-given talents as a path out of poverty, a timely message for a struggling generation.
Bahle is a haunting cry over the collapse of a once-thriving community.
Laced with deep poetic imagery, the song leaves listeners contemplative, searching for the precise subject of the lament, a trademark of Martin’s layered songwriting.
Abakhongi tells the story of a heartbroken woman whose fiancé disappears after sending his family to pay lobola, while John addresses absent fathers who leave mothers to single-handedly raise children.
The song delivers a poignant message; no matter how relationships end, the children must never be the sacrifice.
Martin Sibanda continues to be a keen observer of society, masterfully lacing everyday issues into his compositions, giving a voice to unspoken struggles.
South Africa-based Zimbabwean academic Dr Madlozi Moyo, who has previously studied Ndolwane Super Sounds’ music, praised the album for its polish and authenticity.
“I love the mix of Ndebele and Kalanga. The inclusion of a Kalanga track is always welcome; it’s rich in proverbs.
Also, I appreciate the outsourcing of seasoned guitarists rather than sticking to an in-house band. It allows those guitarists to grow and build their own identities,” he said.
Fans in Bulawayo will have the chance to experience Bhek’Ubone live during the official album launch on Saturday, at Hippopula Pub and Grill.
The event promises to be a full Rhumba immersion under the banner Simunye Simunye.
Speaking ahead of the local launch, Sibanda said: “The South African launch was a full house, and the album is already available in Bulawayo. I urge my fans and music lovers to get the album, as the feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Now in Bulawayo to push the album locally, The Big Boss is ready to reconnect with his roots and celebrate with the fans, who have stood by him through the decades.
