Nobuntu rocks Roots festival

Entertainment
Nobuntu displayed scintillating act alongside Afro-jazz sensation Jeys Marabini and Austria-based a cappella group Insingizi during the Roots Music Festival

BULAWAYO’s dazzling all-female ensemble, Nobuntu, displayed a scintillating act alongside Afro-jazz sensation Jeys Marabini and Austria-based all-male a cappella group Insingizi, during the Roots Music from Southern Africa festival held in Austria, last week.

DIVINE DUBE Own Correspondent

Although the event has from time immemorial been portrayed as an arena for the “who is who” in the arts industry, this year organisers of the festival shocked sceptics by bringing on board the industry’s new kids on the block Nobuntu to share the stage with “gurus of the industry”.

And much to audience expectations, the sensational all-female a cappella group delivered a top-of-the-drawer performance with their charming voices which took the enthralled audience down Africa with songs such as Intombi zeNatali and Usibali.

Although this was their debut international appearance as a group, the female imbube outfit which has in the past hogged the limelight, showed character and maturity with a well orchestrated performance, at the same time proving that the arts industry has the face of a woman as well.

Complementing the new-comers’ performance was Marabini. He proved to be the audience’s favourite by mesmerising revellers with his dexterity on the guitar and songs drawn from his latest album Isilo, launched at the same event.

Austria-based Insingizi also rose to the occasion by delivering a dazzling performance which stamped their authority as one of the much experienced arts groups in the land.

After electrifying performances by Bulawayo groups, the organisers of the show wrote on their Facebook wall: “Roots Music from Southern Africa 2013, was definitely one of the most memorable African-held events of 2013. We look forward to 2014.”