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Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
THERE is a new kid on the block and his name is Mfundisi.
Born Mthokozisi Sikhwili 29 years ago, the Plumtree-based house musician who has been dabbling in the music industry for the past eight years has decided to come out with a strategy to make his mark with a music video for his latest single – Stage Rush.

One cannot be blamed for mistaking the music video which was released this month for a South African production as it is at par with videos produced there.

The four-minute long video produced by the United Kingdom’s Boomslang Productions features DJ Cooperman and DJ Bobskin driving around Bulawayo in Mini Coopers.

It depicts a party atmosphere by a swimming pool, beautiful women dancing and men sipping on their drinks. It already has close to 2,000 likes on YouTube.

Mfundisi who is signed under Bulawayo Knights record stable said he shot the Stage Rush video in order to promote the song itself as people remember what they see.

The video which can be viewed on YouTube has since been sent to Africa’s leading music channels – Channel O and Trace so that it could get possible airplay from the DStv music channels.

“We shot the music video following specifications of Channel O and Trace. We hope it will be considered for airplay on both stations.
“Following international specifications shows that we’ve a clear strategy to make it to the top of the music industry in the country and the region as a whole,” said Mfundisi.

To him, music is a business which can sustain his family’s needs and therefore must be taken seriously.

“Music is a business on its own and artistes should take note of that. At the end of the day, we can entertain people and have fun, but we want money from it.

“It’s necessary for us as artistes to have distinct strategies to market our music,” Mfundisi said.

“When you brand yourself you don’t have to look at every facet of society, but we should look at a certain section that we can serve.”

Asked how the name Mfundisi came about, the artiste said it was a childhood nickname which he ended up adopting. The former Bulawayo Adventist High School pupil said he finds inspiration to write songs when he is in his Plumtree hometown.

Mfundisi started his music career in 2007 as a studio artiste with Face the Music.

He recorded a couple of tracks which unfortunately failed to make a mark.

A year later, he embarked on other projects, only to bounce back in 2009 after meeting Bulawayo DJ, Cooperman who has worked with South Africa’s DJ Clock.