VICTORIA Falls Ubuntu Bomuntu (VFUB), a harmonic male member group formerly known as Amahlosi Asendle Arts, has released a six-track digital versatile disc (DVD) album titled On Footsteps.
NONHLANHLAN SIBANDA
OWN CORRESPONDENT
The album was produced by Native Soul Media.
Victoria Falls Ubuntu Bomuntu was nominated as best outstanding dance group at the National Arts Merit Awards 2012 and has won various competitions.
It is currently based at the world renowned Elephant Hills Hotel where it is a resident group.
The eight-member male a cappella group was formed in 1999 in the resort town and got inspiration from world renowned groups such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo of South Africa and Black Umfolosi of Zimbabwe who sing imbube. The two groups inspired their own musical expedition.
The ensemble comprises Sibangilizwe Sibanda, Ndabezinhle Maseko, Prosper Chuma, Phanankosi Nyathi, Holyman Ncube, Bongani Ndlovu and Calep Madzimbamuto.
They have recorded two albums in the past — Africa My Home in 2004 and Ubuntu Bethu — Our Humanity in 2012.
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“Victoria Falls” in their name represents the town they hail from in Zimbabwe, while Ubuntu Bomuntu is Ndebele for humanity of a person, which is the spiritual value VFUB is spreading through their music.
The imbube group also specialises in local and regional traditional music and dances such as isicathamiya, isitshikitsha, ingquzu, umtshongoyo and gumboot dance.
Frequently playing at the Elephant Hills, one of the biggest hotels in Victoria Falls, VFUB sometimes tours around Zimbabwe and to neighbouring countries such as Botswana and Zambia for performances in concert halls and festivals.
They have shared the stage with local and international musicians such as Mokoomba, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Harvard Krokodiloes from the United States, and Zhing Zheng from China.
In 2009 the group won first prize at the Chibuku Traditional Dance Competition in Harare and has groomed award winner poet Obert Dube.
