Urban Grooves Movement comes to Bulawayo

“Wen’ uthemb’ ukuzohamba noban . . . wen’ uhamba noban’ hamba noban’?” will likely be the chant come month end when the Urban Grooves Movement comes to Bulawayo.

Lovers of urban grooves are set to end their winter in style as some of the yesteryear artistes including Hamba Nobani hit-makers Sku and Pozee Younga97, Trevor Dongo, and Xtra-Large will stage a show at The Boundary Bar on July 29.

Urban Grooves is music that was created by young urban musicians in Zimbabwe roughly between 1999 and 2009. The music included hip-hop, soul, R&B, and dancehall.

Siblings Pozee Younga97 and Sku said they are more than excited to be joining artistes whom they rocked the airwaves with, in the early 2000s. The duo said they cannot wait for the day as they have a lot in store for their fans who used to love urban grooves.

“I’m excited and nervous at the same time to be performing on the day. I’m also confused about what to play since I have a bag of songs that my fans haven’t heard. People should expect Zimbabwe’s number one kwaito king at his best,” Pozee Younga97 said.

In an era where ama2k (those born in the 2000s) are leading with their amapiano hits, Pozee said it is a special thing to still be recognised and appreciated.

“It’s humbling to still be relevant in this generation of ama2k. It’s a testimony that great music is timeless,” he said.
Sku who last performed in 2019 at a modelling show said: “It feels great to be appreciated and given your flowers while you are still alive. I feel this is a good idea of bringing the pioneers back – it gives us a sense of being appreciated and getting the recognition we deserve while we are alive.”

“Being on stage hits differently each time because it brings out my creative side.”
She said Urban Grooves Movement gigs present them with an opportunity to let the new generation know the artistes behind the genre and how they started the movement.

Coordinator of the event, Precious Rufu said the audience is going to be taken back to the urban grooves era, while at the same time, getting to enjoy the current genres through DJ Mzoe, Mzoe 7, Sasha Zw, Kead Wikead, Zefactor, and Henry Hp who are also billed to perform.

“The line-up of artistes is inclusive of all age groups from the urban grooves era to date. Patrons should expect a wonderful experience, being taken back in time and treated to yesteryear music, then being brought to the current hits.

“We wanted this event to be all-encompassing, hence the strong line-up. It’ll definitely be lit as everyone will be catered for,” Rufu said.

Rufu said the preparations for the event are going on well, with the musicians having confirmed their attendance and raring to go.

In recent times, there have been efforts to resuscitate urban grooves in Harare by staging urban grooves concerts. It is paying off as the events have been well attended showing how much people have been missing the yesteryear music. – @TashaMutsiba