The Sunday News
Peter Matika, Senior Life Reporter
IMPUMELELO Shining Stars is, if not one of the greatest traditional ensembles to emerge from the City of Kings.
The group was formed 15 years ago with the hope of conserving, promoting local traditions and culture. Impumelelo Shining Stars, which has stood the test of time, a few months ago, celebrated their 15th year milestone in the industry by holding an afternoon imbube concert in the heart of the city, where other groups, both established and upcoming performed.
Despite the genre lacking popularity, Impumelelo Shining Stars has embarked on a rather epic endeavour to revive the genre, where they have been holding various shows and performances in the city and beyond.
Their effort, which had gone unnoticed has attracted the attention of Zimbabweans and South Africa-based kinsmen, who want to partner them in their journey to revive the genre.
Next month Impumelelo Shining Stars is scheduled to launch their most recent album live on stage in South Africa at the Victory Theatre, former Umoja Theatre in Orange Grove. The album launch will be held on 27 September at the venue.
The group’s leader Oscar Siziba told Sunday Life that they owed most of their success to fans that had stuck with them through their journey and the few corporates that occasionally assisted them.
“We owe our success to the fans and the corporates that have always rallied behind us through thick and thin. We have been in the industry for a while now and we are growing stronger. We are scheduled to launch our live DVD and CD in South Africa next month,” said Siziba, adding that this would be their 8th album.
The album, Avulekile Amazulu, was launched locally, when they held a day concert in the city centre in June this year.
Siziba said the project was a feel good album and a testimony of their journey in the music industry.
“The album, which has 13 tracks, has songs of hope, peace and some that talk about how we as Africans should be proud of ourselves,” said Siziba.
He also revealed that the group was in the process of sealing a deal with South African groups, which would see them having more performances in that country.
“As I am chatting with you we are scheduling for an interview with SABC, where we will be interviewed about our latest album. We are also trying to land deals here that will see us perform between Zimbabwe and South Africa, as we are trying to revive this genre,” said Siziba.
Imbube is one of the greatest Southern African musical genres known in the continent. It is argued that it is one of the genres that were used to fight oppression from invaders, as it provided hope for locals during armed struggles.
However, today it has turned into an enjoyable mainstream music genre that is enjoyed both locally and internationally, hence the constant travel by local groups.
@peterkmatika
