Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube,Online Reporter
CELEBRATED Victoria Falls imbube traditional group Ubuntu Bomuntu has released a seven-track album which the group says will go a long way in shaping the society.
Established in 1999 as a 10-member group, Ubuntu Bomuntu is left with eight members all male.
Ubuntu Bomuntu is well known for its polished performances at corporate and social gatherings in Victoria Falls and has also travelled across Southern Africa with shows in Botswana, South Africa and Zambia.
The group is one of the dominant groups in Victoria Falls and has also been nominated for the National Arts Merit Awards and Bulawayo Arts Awards before.
The first album was titled Africa My Home, followed by Ubuntu Bethu-Humanity, and then the new album, Umdlankunzi, an IsiNdebele word meaning bull eater.
The new album exhibits the maturity and growth of the group.
Its leader Ndabezinhle Sibanda who is also Victoria Falls Artist Assembly chairman said they put heads together as a group and did thorough research on the album.
“The third album has been rated the best of them all because all of its tracks talk about reality and things that happened and those yet to happen. Information was collected, creative skills were put on the ground and brought out the taste of harmonic sounds of traditional/folk music.
“Victoria Falls’ Ubuntu Bomuntu has been known for its best harmonic music. Ever since its formation it has been nominated as one of the best outstanding dance and musical groups in NAMA awards and won various competitions and now we have made it again with our latest album Umdlankunzi,” said Sibanda.
He said the album comprises of seven tracks, two of them gospel and five of pure traditional music. All were recorded at Dab Three Events and composed by Ndabezinhle Sibanda and Ubuntu Bomuntu.
The tracks are Welcome Home, a song that welcomes and greets visitors to the tourist destination of Victoria Falls.
It is sung in different languages of Zimbabwe showing that Victoria Falls is a rainbow city and melting pot for all cultures, languages, races, and ethnic groups.
Cathu Cathu is the second track, and is derived from an IsiNdebele term that explains the movement of people from one point to the other. It is a gospel song that talks about the journey of Christians to the promised land of Paradise.
The third track, Inkanyezi is also a gospel song explaining a Bible verse that talks about the Wise Men from the East during the time of birth of Jesus Christ.
The song calls for God’s mercy to save his people from the world’s sufferings and calls upon him to open the Heavens for the righteous to go as it goes on to say “vulekani masango nanti izulu livaliwe” (open the gates).
Track number four, Social Media encourages citizens to be wary of social media but at the same time to be techno-savvy and move with the times.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic that started in 2020 left the group and the whole society devastated and through the track Umhlaba, Ubuntu Bomuntu appeals to God on when the pandemic will end and people stop suffering and dying.
Esigodlweni is a thanksgiving song that celebrates the culture and values of the Ndebele people, taking people back to the founding King of the Ndebele, King Mzilikazi kaMatshobana and praises the King through his clan names.
The last track Migalo/Drug Abuse cautions citizens especially young people against using drugs. It teaches all young people to be responsible as future leaders hence they should stop abusing drugs and other substances and it is the song that carried the title of the album Umdlankunzi as drugs eat into one’s life and future.
Sibanda said the album is rich with messages.
“All these songs taste good in your ears and we believe that this album will heal and entertain because we believe that umculo yinqokonqoko (music has power),” he said.
He said the group, which also has some singles to its sleeve, is working on another album to be recorded in April.
He appealed for support from fans and community and other stakeholders including the Government, especially with the establishment of an arts centre or youth centre where the group and other artists can rehearse from.
Victoria Falls has no arts infrastructure and most traditional groups practice in the bush while contemporary singers practice at home.
Online Reporter