IMPUMELELO Shining Stars (ISS) and Gwanda-based praise poet Lerato Ndlovu – aka uNqindi oMnyama – are set to perform at the Hilbrow Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa, in what promises to be thrilling show on July 18.
BY NONHLANHLA SIBANDA
ISS will perform at Ihlombe Choral Festival with other world-acclaimed groups in the mainstream International Choral Classic Movements – South African editions.
The festival runs from July 17 to 19 in Johannesburg. Nqindi will together with the group on July 18 and thereafter, stage a number of shows in South Africa and seal the tour by recording a debut album. Nqindi has been in the industry for more than three decades.
Nqindi has performed in some prestigious events such as the Rainbow Province Arts Festival in 2014 and shared the stage with Zonda Mthakathi.
“The main aim of bringing ISS to South Africa is to help them open up new markets, share some experiences with other successful artists abroad, remind foreign-based artists of their roots in imbube, isicathamiya music and promote arts collaborations. Thay is why they will be coming with Nqindi,” Tsampani Events Management manager Christian Kore Sibanda to Southern Eye Lifestyle.
“We have noted with concern our heritage decaying as we travel across borders, hence the bringing of a group fresh from home that will help to refresh our cultural cycle, preserve our valuable cultural assets, remind us of our values, in fact, we want to be proud of being Zimbabweans even when residing outside of our borders.
“When we planned this show with my team, Nqindi was picked because he is one of the most valuable artistes who have been overlooked for long despite the fact that he has all that it takes to be a role model poet,” he added.
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ISS has seven albums so far, with the latest offering being a 14-track compilation called Amaqhinga Aphelile. It was recorded in 2013 featuring leading isicathamiya musicians like Joseph Shabalala (leader of a South African multi-award winning group- Ladysmith Black Mambazo).
The group led by Oscar Khutshwekhaya Siziba has a captivating blend of traditional music and dances cutting across different groups through use of multilingual themes expressed through imbube and isicathamiya.
The group has performed at Hifa, Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo, and Ibumba International Festival. They have toured eight countries in Africa – Mozambique, Zambia, Swaziland, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana South Africa and Zimbabwe.
