The Sunday News
Sunday Leisure Reporter
Afro-Jazz sensation Jeys Marabini and his group will next month embark on a European tour that will see them perform in different cities in Germany, Austria and Hungary. The aim of the tour, according to Jeys, is to promote Zimbabwean music as well as market his latest eleven track album Isilo to the international audience.
He will for the first time travel with his entire Imbizo band that comprises Mzingaye Ndlela (percussionist), Mthabisi Moyo (guitarist), Dumisani Nkomo (vocalist), Kelvin Ndlovu (bass guitarist) and Trevor Mnaphi (drummer).
They are set to fly out of the country in mid-June and return at the end of July. Born Majahawodwa Ndlovu, Jeys has managed to carve a name for himself in the showbiz industry in the country particularly in Matabeleland where he is a household name.
He is not a stranger to tours especially in Europe where he has since established a very good fan base.
Jeys said his tours were aimed at marketing Zimbabwean culture through music as well as creating synergies with other world class musicians.
“We want to put a good show and prove to the world that Bulawayo has got talent. We hope to attract a number of promoters and musicians outside Africa to set their eyes on Bulawayo talent through our performances,” he said.
Jeys said he was delighted to take all members of his band, which he formed in 2002 and was still intact.
“I think the group and I had done a great job. It was formed during the period of economic recession in the country and it wasn’t easy but we were able to withstand the hardships and today I am more delighted to go places with them,” he said.
He said he was proud of being a Zimbabwean and an African saying many European countries were attracted to original African art that portrays the African culture.
Jeys urged local up and coming musicians to be patient and commit themselves to the music they produce and avoid coming out with rushed and half-baked products saying the quality of music says everything about the artiste.
“Local artistes should be patient; nothing happens overnight. You cannot start singing today and tomorrow you wake up the best musician. The problem is that people have taken music as a part time profession and playing second fiddle to vending and other professions. Music needs a lot of time and usually it’s difficult to produce the best if you treat music as a spare time profession,” he said.
Jeys paid tribute to Dumisani Moyo – a Zimbabwean who is based in Austria who he said was very instrumental in organising the international tour.
He said his last Austrian tour was quite fruitful as revellers and music stakeholders in that country showed great appreciation of his music, leading to his genre being taught in some schools.
Jeys has previously toured the United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Holland and the United States and hopes to further spread his music in other countries in future.
