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Nobuntu

Bulawayo’s all-female outfit, Nobuntu, has dropped its second album titled ‘Ekhaya’.

The 14-track offering which is available on iTunes features the groups hit single, ‘Narini’. Narini has been received well with its video recently taking first position on the DStv (Zambezi Magic) Zim Top 10 chart show.

Ekhaya is loaded with rich traditional vocals backed by well-syncronised traditional instruments such as Mbira. The acoustic guitar has also been introduced to their music.

On why they chose to call the album Ekhaya, the group members said: “Ekhaya is homage of all ways African, its beauty, the values and our norms.”

“Ekhaya is our attempt to leave behind a world and legacy our children will be happy to inherit and preserve. The album highlights the importance of a place one calls home. No matter what you do or where you go, there’s no place like home.

Responding to how their first album performed on the market and why it seems they are celebrated more outside than locally, they said:

“Our debut album was released in 2011. Locally, it was received well though not as well as it was internationally. The album immediately took us beyond the borders which in itself is evidence that the international market received our product far much better than at home.

“We think it’s the norm in our country that artists or anyone worth celebrating is celebrated elsewhere than at home. Zimbabwe consumes more outside products from food to clothes and that has to change.”

As was the case on their debut album, no artistes have been featured on ‘Ekhaya’ though the ladies revealed plans to collaborate with other artistes for their future productions.

Nobuntu encouraged other artists saying: “Tapping into the international market is never easy. We’re really fortunate that there’s a team behind us that works tirelessly on our behalf to get us shows around the world.

“To fellow artists we say, be real, do you, no two artists are ever the same. Work hard and if possible get people who believe in you to run and support your vision.”

Nobuntu is an Acappella vocal ensemble made up of young Zimbabwean women. Their repertoire is a fusion of traditional Zimbabwean rooted music, afro jazz, gospel and crossover in pure voices with minimalistic percussion, traditional instruments such as mbira and some dance movements.

The group was founded in 2011 on realising the absence of an all-female professional Acappella group in the country.
– Zimbojam.