The Sunday News
Peter Matika, Senior Life Reporter
BULAWAYO Jazz Maestro Majahawodwa Ndlovu, warmly known as Jeys Marabini has opened his very own music academy — Jeys Marabini Music Academy.
Announcing the news on his Facebook page he wrote:
“I am humbled to officially announce to you our loyal fans, supporters, strategic partners, friends and family that Jeys Marabini Music Academy is NOW OPEN.”
He said the opening of the academy was inspired by the need to nurture and develop talent at a young age.
“Jeys Marabini Music Academy was inspired by the need to develop and nurture our wealth of young musical talents.
#JeysMarabini is well known in the national, regional and international scene as an acclaimed musician. It is with this expertise and experience that this Academy has been birthed for the love of our people and passing on the legacy,” he said.
The academy will provide youth with the opportunity to learn quality and comprehensive music.
“Jeys Marabini Music Academy provides our young talents with the opportunity, with quality, comprehension music instruction in a supportive and structured setting where you can learn the craft of music to achieve and realise your greatest potential,” he said.
Jeys Marabini has steadily but surely risen to become a force to reckon with not only in Bulawayo, but in Africa and the world over.
Born Majahawodwa Ndlovu, in Filabusi in 1971, and the seventh child in a family of nine boys, he attended Dekezi Primary and Dekezi Secondary schools in the district.
His musical background can be traced from secondary school, but it was not until 1991 at the age of 20 that he decided to become a professional musician forming an imbube group called Comforting Brothers, which later changed its name to Imbizo. It was at this time that he assumed the name “Jeys Marabini”, presumably from the Marabi type of music he plays.
Immediately after the establishment of Imbizo in Bulawayo, the gifted vocalist was soon approached by a representative of the group Sunduza Boys, which had made a name in Bulawayo, after they had seen his electrifying performance.
Now as the lead vocalist of the group Jeys and the Sunduza Boys embarked on their Indian and United Kingdom tour which lasted for six months.
After the successful world tour Jeys came back home to take a well-deserved break before the formation of a 10-member band called Kozekulunge in 2002.
Jeys’ type of music is a fusion of afro-jazz, accapella, traditional and imbube music, which are all a consolidation of sweet melodies from yesteryear Africa up until the present time, blended with modern instruments. There is no doubt that with the establishment of this music academy, Bulawayo will soon be boasting of talented musicians, from his expertise.
@peterkmatika
