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Impumelelo Shining Stars on stage promoting their latest album in Bulawayo a few months ago

Nhlalwenhle Ngwenya
IN a bid to revive imbube music in the country, six local groups have come together to organise an Imbube music festival.

The festival taking place at the Bulawayo Theatre today will be held under the theme: “United we stand, divided we fall”.

Groups Sunduza, Ibutho Likakristu, Ukukhanya Kwezwe, Men of influence, Great Stars, Impumelelo Shining Stars will perform at the event which also seeks to unite people through music.

Oscar Siziba, one of the festival’s organisers said it was high time groups unite to promote the imbube genre in the country.

“We realised that imbube is no longer popular as it was back when we were growing up hence the decision to hold this festival,” said Siziba.

He said the festival was also aimed at addressing stereotypes that imbube is music for beerhalls and mining towns.

“Imbube is a genre that’s recognised internationally, not only in mines and beerhalls as people have been made to believe. As Imbube musicians, we’re slowly penetrating the modern market,” he said.

“We’re hosting this festival to make a stand for our genre,” he said.

Siziba  said  the genre was dying because there were no festivals and shows to expose and promote it.

“We’ve resolved to make this an annual event and will have our albums and other souvenirs available at the festival” said Siziba.

Tickets to the event are on sale at Enia Hair studio (corner 2nd Ave and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street).

Imbube is one of the greatest Southern African musical genres that was used to mobilise people to fight settler oppression.