The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sunday Leisure Correspondent
SOUTH Africa’s Soul Brothers remain one of the top musical influences in Matabeleland and the passing away of lead singer; David Masondo touched many hearts as people had become accustomed to his voice, particularly in Bulawayo.
Masondo’s passing on has not gone unnoticed and local upcoming musician, Solitaire “Zibozizodwa” Ncube has penned a tribute track for the Soul Brothers front man.
Zibozi, as Ncube is popularly known, released the song titled, “Angila mali” last month following the death of Masondo in July.
The song employs the chorus of the popular Soul Brothers track Bazobuya, a blockbuster track released in 1989, a year before the release of Nelson Mandela, as they sung about imprisoned political activists who had left their wives and children in strife under apartheid rule.
Although the song opens with the Soul Brothers beat it changes to a hip hop/kwaito rhythm that Zibozi chants over hip-hop style. The tune talks about the hardships faced by Bulawayo youths due to lack of employment.
The single was produced by Khuxxman and P2daoh from the KLAP family and Zibozi said it was being warmly received at various venues that he had so far performed.
“The Soul Brothers is one of the most popular groups whose songs almost took over every house in the townships, entertainment places still play them and people have no doubt shown that they won’t stop listening to their music anytime soon.
“The death of Masondo obviously touched most of us, there were many tributes that poured out of the country and as a young artiste who grew up while their music was dominating stereos, I felt compelled to pen a track in his honour,” said Zibozi.
The young muso is one of the emerging singers in Bulawayo and last year had a fairytale run in the local talent identification television programme, Starbrite where he managed to finish in fourth place.
Zibozi, who started his career in the arts as a poet in 2008, has four singles to his name with “Lacoste” and “Hustling” being the most popular.
“I am still working on my first album but I’m not in a hurry as I want to make sure that it appeals to a wide audience. I am putting it together and I might release it next year,” he said.
The Soul Brothers remain one of the most popular groups from South Africa that have managed to attract a huge following in Zimbabwe and there are indications they might perform in the country before the end of the year.
Some of their popular hits include Sibongile, Mama kaSibongile, Baba kaSibongile, Umshoza, Deliwe, Kulukhuni.
Zibozi has performed in many local and regional events fusing poetry and music. He has performed at the Mthwakazi Nite of the Stars alongside Nox Guni, Iyasa and many others. Locally he has performed with Khuxxman, Mcheznana and Jeys Marabini.
