LAST WEEK, one of Zimbabwe’s foremost music groups lured a full house to the National Art Gallery in Bulawayo. The imbube ensemble which has over two decades of music-making under its belt, managed to pull off a feat that other local acts dream about, ie to get everyday Joe and Busi to attend a show at night.
Bulawayo folk are not famous for night time excursions. But there are exceptions. One of these exceptions is Black Umfolosi. The crowd was not the usual crowd of artistes supporting other artistes. Omama labobaba were there in full support at the fundraiser for the group’s tour in November.
Black Umfolosi may have been inspired by South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo, but the cultural ties and the group’s musical pedigree and showmanship is undoubted. Imbube is music by folk of Nguni extraction.
Something special Something special happened that night at the gallery. Spontaneously, elderly men and women folk stood up to dance. The group ran through their catalogue of hits alongside imbube standards such as The lion sleeps. Their isicathamiya and ingquzu dances helped deliver a potent show which was in reality a master class of showbiz presentation.
I suppose this is what United States writer Malcolm Gladwell meant when he conceived what he called the 10 000-hour rule.
This idea is really his aggregation of the amount of time it takes to reach a certain level of mastery in one’s field of endeavour.
You should have been there to hear them render songs such as Unity. This song is a song that brought the group to national fame and etched them in posterity. Of course they have other hits . . .
So it was with Black Umfolosi, they have been around long enough to have garnered 10 000 hours of working stages throughout the world, I believe. The group was founded in 1982 and it has proved to be a way out of township blues for the members and onto the global stages. Locally, we are yet to properly recognise them. It is time.
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Vital fact The group is one of the very few who have been able to truly monetise their craft and acquire real estate from their proceeds. They all own houses – at least all the founding members.
Yes, others moved on, such as Lucky Moyo, but today the founder Sotsha Moyo remains alongside the other founder Tomeck Dube. They are ably supported by Austin Chisale, Alec Moshoeshoe, Brian Moyo and Thethela Moyo.
Of course their families are firmly behind them as are communities who came out in full force to lend their support for the institution that the group has become. Should they enter the newly-revived and formed awards, I would expect them to win a lifetime achievement award and for services rendered to the music industry and corpus of Zimbabwean and Southern African music.
Their cultural ambassadorial role is peerless. Another thing, meet Sotsha or Tomeck on the streets and it is always with a smile they greet you. No ego, no superstar complex. Our Johnnies-come-lately can riff through Black Umfolosi’s life book and sip from their cup of ubuntu and class!
Oskido shines To date his Facebook page records over three hundred thousand fans! A serious game changer this one is. Several years down the line, the Luveve-spawned hustler has made it to the top of the pile in African showbiz from Cape to Cairo!
His work, through the likes of Mafikizolo, Black Coffee, Bongo Muffin, etc is self evident. As we speak, Oskido (pictured) the son of politician Esaph Mdlongwa is a judge on South African talent shows SA’s Got Talent. It was about time. Oskido’s efforts have now reached what sociologists call the tipping point.
It is a point at which you can no longer be ignored, when your influence and lifework has made enough impact to make your brand unique. Much like when Michael Jordan ruled the NBA or when Mike Tyson hogged the press. Who better than Mdlongwa to judge a talent show indeed ?
The anatomy of a hit Readers have to understand that Oskido’s rise was not overnight. His hustle was over a long grind. Writing in one of Emzansi’s publication a journalist wrote about Oscar’s selection for the two shows: “Very often, winners of talent shows tend to fade away from the music industry even before they have made their mark. The X Factor SA’s decision to get Oskido on board offers the contestants the best chance of making it. As a mentor on the show, Oskido will also be sharing some of the biggest lessons he has learnt in the industry.”
Oskido himself is quoted as commenting about young talent: “Thinking that you are untouchable is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. I always tell young artistes: ‘Never stop listening to advice.’ Yes, you are working at clubs and parties where there could be drugs and groupies, but treat it like a nine-to-five job.”
Culture Beat can safely surmise that the reason why Oskido is huge at the moment apart from his Zimbabwean work ethic is his life philosophy. He seems to operate under the influence of the abundance mentality which really is about making room for others to stand in the shine with you and not being threatened about someone’s abilities.
Oskido has played the Alex Ferguson, no, the Berry Gordy of South African artistes. Everybody that really matter in the music business down South owe him!
Young hustlers There are local youth who have caught the vision and are in serious collaborations and projects. I will mention young Polite Sithole, aka P2DahO, POZEE, PERCY, KLAP, Skaiva and others. The grind is slow, but do grind on. You may just get paid.
More importantly take note of the words of a member of Oskido’s collective DJ Vinny Da Vinci: “The one thing that I also think is most important as well is for the youngsters to treat the game as a job – just like any nine-to-five. I believe that once that happens, they will become business minded because the industry today is all about business and professionalism.
“Basically one should try and know the game, know his/her strengths and focus on that and in the end do the best that they can.”
This he spoke on the back of South African Music Conference which was founded by Oskido alongside others such DJ Christos and Greg Maloka.
Parting shot As an insider, I am privy to some news before they unravel in our arts sector. I can inform you that funny man and gifted master of ceremonies among other things, Babongile Sikhonjwa has got a dope new single slated for release soon.
Next week I will review it alongside sultry singer Alaina’s new debut album.
