I am out of the closet...

#IntwasaArtsFestival City Hall car park with my big sister and our men

As a youngster growing up in the township, I was introduced to Tshibilika Ekhaya Music by my father, who happens to be a cross border transport operator, commonly known as “uMalayitsha.”

He would play music by Ndolwane Super Sounds, Mokis Connection and Clement Magwaza at full blast on his car radio and the truth is at the time I was not impressed at all.

No, let me rephrase that. I was beyond exasperated because THAT type of music was associated with people with a strong rural background and in my naivety I did not want to be identified as such.

You will agree with me that growing up we all tried to fit in with the IT crowd and since Tshibilika Ekhaya Music was not the type of music that appealed to urban youths, I was petrified of what my mates would think of me.

As my father’s car was the family’s means of transport whenever and wherever we travelled, I inevitably got to know the music of groups like Ndolwane word for word but that is not something that I would have admitted to anyone though.

Fast forward to the present and I am grown up and not that much concerned about what my peers think about me.

I am no longer a closet Tshibilika Ekhaya music fanatic.

I unashamedly dance to Tshibilika Ekhaya Music and will proudly and loudly request my all time favourite track Uhluphile by Ndolwane Super Sounds at parties.

It has always been my wish to see Ndolwane Super Sounds in action but just like last year, I failed to catch the group live at the recent Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo because they performed early in the evening when I was still tied up.

While I was sad to have again missed out on seeing Ndolwane live on Thursday 24 September, performances by Jeys Marabini and Clement Magwaza quickly wiped away my disappointment.

I was wowed!     

Clement Magwaza in action

Marabini’s performance this year was a big improvement compared to what he dished out last year.

Someone must have whispered in his ear that at shows people want up tempo music that will keep them on their feet and keep the crowd on their feet he did.

After Jeys’ performance Clement Magwaza then took to the stage and all of a sudden the atmosphere became electric.

The crowd surged closer to the stage and those that did not were not doing so out of indifference but because they wanted to create space for themselves to do the kokotsha dance.

I could not help but feel proud at the way that people were showing appreciation for their own music.

OH-MY-GOD!!!!! Let’s just say that my year was officially made.

Magwaza is that type of artist who takes to the stage and the crowds do not know whether to dance or to just stand and watch them do their thing.

The brother man and his band gave a scintillating performance and I could not help but scream my support as he worked the crowd with his “Sebenza Tsotsi” chant.

Clement Magwaza's dancers pose for a photo after their set

It is sad that as Zimbabweans we look down upon our own artistes and only get to appreciate something when it comes from outside our borders.

For instance, our Tshibilika Ekhaya dancers have for ages been doing what the Americans now call twerking and just because we are now seeing the dance moves on international television it is now fashionable for girls to be able to twerk.

 Our local artistes need all the support and the first step is to realise that we have our own unique sounds that we should learn to appreciate.

No one but us will make stars out of our artistes and the sooner we realise that we stand a better chance of breaking into regional and international markets by showcasing our own blend of music the better.

Photo journalist Fortune Muzarabani, one of Clement Magwaza's dancers, veteran journalist Lovemore Dube and Ndux Malax Junior 

On Saturday I saw Ndux Malax Junior in action and while he did play yesteryear hits by his late father, I do believe he has created his own sound judging from the way the crowd reacted to music from his own catalogue.

Thanks to the Intwasa team for affording our artistes a platform to strut their stuff to large audiences and judging from the way that all kinds of people were getting down, I am sure I am not the only one who came out of the closet.....  

 

Signing out

KOKOTSHA UMAKOKOTSHA,

KOKOTSHA UYAKOKOTSHA......

God Is Love

Emma