Plans are afoot to stage a mother-of-all shows dubbed “ A Night With The Legends ” in Bulawayo featuring a glittering list of old-timers, the Cool Crooners, Dorothy Masuka and Black Umfolosi.
NONHLANHLA SIBANDA OWN CORRESPONDENT
While the organisers of the event are reluctant to peel the wrapping around the show likely to be largely a blast of the past show, Southern Eye has it in good authority the gig has been slated for May 2 at a venue yet to be announced.
Black Umfolosi director and member Thomeki Dube and Cool Crooners member George Salima confirmed they had received invitations for the gig.
However, Babongiwe Sikonjwa, one of the organisers of the event, said it was too early to speak of the event, but indicated it was game on.
Those privy to the show said the event would be aimed at honouring and recognising legends in the music industry such as Umfolosi, Masuka and Crooners.
Black Umfolosi
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Black Umfolosi is a self-taught imbube singing and traditional dance group that was formed in 1982 by the then school age members who wanted to develop themselves and contribute to their community.
The group specialises in imbube music, gumboot dance and Zulu dance. Black Umfolosi has toured extensively nationally and internationally in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia and Asia.
They have represented Zimbabwe at international events such as Expo 1992 in Seville, Spain, and the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada.
Dorothy Masuka
Masuka is a jazz maestro born in 1935 in Bulawayo. As a young girl aged 12, her family moved to South Africa.
She performed at school concerts at a tender age. She was attracted by American jazz and the South African music scene. She recorded the album Pata Pata in 1990 and In 2001 her album Mzilikazi was recorded.
Dorothy performed in London in December 2002 to promote her new CD, The Definitive Collection.
The Cool Crooners
The Cool Crooners’ first album was Blue Sky. The group was formed by long-time friends, Abel, Ben and Lucky. They began their careers in the 1950s in the then Southern Rhodesia.
The Cool Crooners have mixed the Western rhythms with African beats and use languages such as Ndebele, Zulu and Swahili .
The Cool Crooners of today are the surviving members of two rival bands that played in the 50s: The Cool Four and The Golden Delicious Rhythm Crooners.
They have shared the stage with some of the country’s renowned jazz musicians such as Dudu Manhenga, Bob Nyabinde, Jazz Invitation, Tanga WekwaSando and other internationally-recognised artistes. They have launched their second album Isatilo in France featuring Prudence Katomeni.
The Cool Crooners and Masuka were honoured together with other artistes at a high profile gala dinner at the Harare Jazz Festival in 2011.
