PRONIX AND HARMONIC RHYTHMS, a local Afro-soul band, are no strangers to frequenters of Holiday Inn KoBulawayo Bar where, as the resident band every Thursday evening, they belt out live music to clients sipping sundowners.
NONHLANHLA SIBANDA OWN CORRESPONDENT
The band, made up of males in their 20s, plays anything from renditions of local, regional and international artistes to their own home-grown offerings. Pronix and Harmonic Rhythms was only formed early last year, but has had its plate full in such a short period of time.
Sometimes deftly packaged in urban chic and spotting shades even at night, the band exhibits celebrity qualities and handles the stage like veterans.
They have performed on numerous stages including Miss Bulawayo, Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo, and various national galas. In February hogged the limelight during President Robert Mugabe’s birthday fundraising dinner held in Bulawayo. Because of their brilliance on stage and in song, the band has curtain raised for international artistes such as South African Afro-jazz musician Bongeziwe Mabandla and South African Disc Jockey Fresh.
Led by singer/songwriter Prosper Ndebele (22), aka Pronix, who has his own Afro-jazz solo album titled I wanna be a champion, the band members believe the sky is the limit.
Other members include Nkosiphile “Philekeyz Nino” Sibanda, a 24-year- old academic with a degree in banking (keyboards), Lungile “Luwiji” Ndlovu (23) who is studying projects management (drums) and Kelvin “KK” Katongo (21), graphic designer (bass).
Some music critics have likened Pronix and Harmonic Rhythms to South African band The Muffins.
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“We played at our different churches and were also in different bands at university and college, but then later decided to form a band in May last year,” Sibanda, the spokesperson of the band, told Southern Eye Lifestyle.
“Initially we were only going to perform a few gigs together and that was it, but after a while we realised that people were enjoying the sound we were producing and we decided to make the band official.
“As a band, we fuse our voices together with the instruments we play to deliver a melodiously harmonious message. These songs are aimed at healing people’s hearts and souls around the world,” Sibanda explained.
One founding band member Muziwandile “Fresh” Mdlongwa, who played the acoustic guitar, left the group to study at the University of Pretoria in South Africa.
“We believe education is a necessity especially to us the youth. Life nowadays is complicated. With the invention of technology people need to keep up. If you are in the dark you will be in serious problems. You need education to understand the environment around you, when musicians get into the industry they ignore education but do not realise you need something to fall back on when things don’t go well, ” Sibanda said, referring to Mdlongwa’s departure to further his education.
Apart from playing at Holiday Inn Bulawayo every Thursday evening as the resident band, the group performs at Horizon Pub and Restaurant on some Fridays.
It is available for hire for weddings, birthday parties and cocktail parties. Currently Pronix and Harmonics Rhythms, sings in Shona, Ndebele, Zulu, English and French and is working on a first album at Face the Music studios.
“We need exposure and also to promote our music. We dream of being a household name in the country and renowned band in Southern Africa,” Sibanda said.
