The Sunday News
Peter Matika, Senior Life Reporter
THE name Boys II Men is synonymous with American R&B vocal group — Boyz II Men, best known for composing emotional ballads and accapella harmonies.
The group, as the name suggests is an all-male group comprising three members and arguably remains one of the most truly iconic R&B groups in music history.
The group redefined popular R&B and continues to create timeless hits that appeal to fans across all generations.
Perhaps inspired by the idea of an all-male band making a difference across all strata, a group of enterprising men from Mzilikazi, Bulawayo developed and established an all-male burial society going by the same name.
The society — Boys to Men Burial society was incepted in 2001 and has had a record breaking membership of 160 members in less than a year of its inception. Shying away from the typical conventional burial societies, which cater for men and women, this society is strictly a men’s only affair and is open to anyone from 16 years of age. Recently celebrating their 15-year anniversary in existence, the society held a rather extravagant party in the suburb in May, where members treated themselves to three course sumptuous meals and beverages, courtesy of Bulawayo socialite Austen Moyo, warmly known as Malume.
Speaking to Sunday Life at the anniversary celebrations, one of the founding members Siyayi Moyo said the society had come a long way. “Boys to Men Burial Society is an upmarket burial society based in Mzilikazi known for its professional and dignified approach to life and death. It has grown from a small group to an enormous society,” he said.
Despite having fewer members in the group, owing much to death, today the society has managed to develop itself into a trust.
“We have managed to turn the society into a trust and like any organisation we have an organogram with members of the society being at the helm of handling its own affairs.
“We are open to anyone but we are strictly male oriented. We as the society cater to the bereaved families in our capable capacity. For instance if a member loses their loved one we as the society chip in to assist financially and emotionally,” said Moyo.
“We also hold and perform community projects to better our neighbourhood and livelihood. We are saying we want to turn the conception that nothing good comes out from the ghetto. We as a society have managed to develop something from nothing and are the envy of many other organisations. The society is blessed to have active members who cater for society events such as this one. In particular one of our very defined and active members is Moyo (Malume), look at the meal we just had; he prepared all that by himself and assists a lot.
@peterkmatika
