The Sunday News
Mbongeni Msimanga
FROM time immemorial music has been one tool used in African societies to convey important messages to people as well as social commentaries on various issues be they political, social and economic.
Messages therefore vary from that of solidarity, love, patriotism, and respect to unity.
Some songs were sung during colonial days to convey political messages albeit in a subtle way and spurred people into action.
In Zimbabwe, Imbube has continued to be a popular genre among audiences and Impumelelo Shining Stars has continued to popularise the genre.
Recently they launched their first professional live DVD with nine tracks mainly preaching the gospel of Christ, peace, harmony and unity.
“Our disc is mainly preaching the gospel of Christ, peace, harmony and Ubuntu. We have nine tracks on the album and we are hoping that people, our fans in particular, will understand the vision that we have as Impumelelo Shining Stars,” said the group leader Oscar Siziba.
After 14 years of existence in the entertainment industry, they insist that the going has been tough although they have managed to penetrate the South African showbiz industry where the genre is quite popular.
Siziba said he was the only founding member left, and he had maintained the vision that Impumelelo Shining Stars had since its inception in 2001.
“We have been in existence since 2001. It is unfortunate that I am the only existing founding member that is left at the moment because some left due to economic hardships. They, however, found other avenues that would generate money for them. I still share the same vision that the founding members had. We have also managed to penetrate the South African showbiz industry as well, which is sort of a plus on our side” he said.
The group has collaborated with others in the industry such as Lady Smith Black Mambazo, late singer Joseph Shabalala in the track Wobuy’ ubuye off the album Amaqhinga Aphelile.
The group has also managed to release eight albums many of which feature isichathamiya music, a kind of Imbube genre.
“We have managed to release eight albums so far and the most prominent was our collaboration with Lady Smith Black Mambazo, late singer Joseph Shabalala. Our music is isichathamiya music, a kind of Imbube genre,” said Siziba.
The group of 10 has performed at some of the high profile musical festivals and venues such as Harare International Festival of Arts, Intwasa Festival koBulawayo, Ibumba International Festival in Bulawayo, and Pretoria Showgrounds in South Africa.
The Stars have managed to share the stage with musicians like Shabalala Rhythms, Derrick Ndzimande, Jeys Marabini, Black Umfolosi, Zinja Ziyamluma and Abafana bakaMashobana and have seven albums to their name.
