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Family Voices

Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
MELODIOUS, exquisite, well co-ordinated and superbly choreographed are some of the words that describe the Family Voices’ performance during their album launch held at the Family of God auditorium on Saturday evening.
Performing to a full house, Family Voices went through their 14-track album Time for Breaking Through in an hour and the audience would sing and dance with the group.

The audience which included Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan province Nomthandazo Moyo, local businessman Sonny Phiri and wife Lorraine Maphala, South African soapie Muvhango cast, church leadership and other distinguished guests were left mesmerised and ran out of superlatives to describe the breathtaking performance by the eight member group.

The group sang renditions of Regakusarira by Amabhubesi and Homeless by Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the cast comprised of Chief Azwindini Mukhwevo (Gabriel Temudzani), Mulimisi (Humbulani Tsharani) and Kgomotso (Desano Ledwaba), could not contain themselves as they danced and sang with the group.

The South Africans who jetted into the city yesterday were returning the favour to the Bulawayo-based acapella group who in May this year were afforded the opportunity to travel to South Africa to join them in celebrating the 2,000 episode of Muvhango.

The group started with their well known track Ahh (Wowuya Jesu) and ended their performance with the title track of the album Time for Breaking Through.

East Africa Idols 2008 winner Eric Moyo, who is the director of the group, made a cameo appearance when he sang Qobolwani that is found on the album. When he entered the stage he was greeted by a resounding row from the crowd and he did not disappoint with his performance.

Other songs on the album include, Crown, Shelter, Ahh (Wowuya Jesu) and Mzalwane.
One of the major highlights during the night was when Reverend Paul Bayethe Damasane showed off his linguistic prowess as he spoke in Venda to the chief Azwindini and Sesotho to Kgomosto of Muvhango.

His message to the two was Zimbabweans were a God fearing nation that cherished going to church and Godly principles.
Kgomosto said when they were ion the Muvhango set and heard Family Voices sing they were awestruck and could not contain themselves as they cheered and shouted during the recording.

She said the group was talented and they should be supported in all possible ways.
“When we are on set in the studio we are supposed to be quiet when recording an episode.  As soon as Family Voices opened their mouths and began to sing we were astounded and shocked that such as group could sing so well.

These men can sing, we were thanking the Lord for bringing us such people who can sing so well,” she said.
Minister Nomthandazo Moyo described the group’s singing as a taste of excellence.

She said Family Voices were utilising their talents as in the Bible, there was a parable in Matthew 25 verses 14 to 30 about the three men who were given  talents by their master.

“Family Voices have utilised and shared their talent with us in Zimbabwe. When someone is born they are born holding a fist, in that fist there is a talent that God gave you that is supposed to be utilised,” said Moyo.