Mahlaba Banda remembered

THE late Bulawayo artiste and founding member of the 1980s band Sunduza Boys, which is now known as Sunduza Dance Theatre — Simon Mahlaba Banda — will be remembered on December 20 at the Pumula Open Air.

THE late Bulawayo artiste and founding member of the 1980s band Sunduza Boys, which is now known as Sunduza Dance Theatre — Simon Mahlaba Banda — will be remembered on December 20 at the Pumula Open Air.

SHARON SIBINDI OWN CORRESPONDENT

Banda was a great arts mentor, founder, producer, singer and performer and an icon in Zimbabwe. He sang the score in the movie Power of One that was shot in Bulawayo featuring heavyweight Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman.

Speaking to Woza Weekend, his son Charles said an album Shine Like a Rainbow would be launched during the commemorations to celebrate his late father’s life.

Sunduza Boys
Sunduza Boys

He revealed that plans were afoot to build a foundation that would be called “Sunduza Mahlaba” as a way of remembering the works of his father.

“The commemorations will start with a family day in the morning with jumping castles and braai. From 5pm till 8pm, there will be the album launch,” he said.

“The album features some artistes my father has worked with and these include Albert Nyathi, Jeys Marabini, Willis Wataffi, Otis Ngwabi, Janet Wood and Desire Moyo.

These artistes will perform on the day and we want the event to be held annually every December.

“We want support to build this foundation to remember my father’s works through art and songs.”

Simon-Banda
Simon-Banda

Veteran DJ Ezra “Tshisa” Sibanda will be the MC.

The late Simon Mahlaba worked with Iyasa, Siyaya and had great collaborations with the Glasgow Urban Dance Theatre, Aberdeen Urban Street Theatre project — Gravity Wheels.

He choreographed the Sheffield Oratorius production of David Fanshawe’s African Sanctus at the University of Sheffield in 2002 together with Alan Eost, Mandla Sibanda and Philip Weiss.

He choreographed the youth project with the Performing Africa Conference at Leeds University in 2004 and significantly founded the first intercultural choir working in the imbube tradition in United Kingdom in 2001.

He worked extensively with schools and youth projects in the UK.

He also adjudicated and trained artistes as part of the Music Crossroads project in Zimbabwe and worked closely with the UNDP programme “Artistes Against Poverty”.