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Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
ZIMBABWE’S all-female acapella group, Nobuntu, are planning more shows this year to raise their profile locally before they become global icons.

The five-member group which comprises Duduzile Sibanda, Thandeka Moyo, Joyline Sibanda, Zanele Manhenga and Heather Dube, say they want to work on their local image and become a household name in Zimbabwe.

“We plan to have more shows in the country so that people know more of us. Right now there are a few people who know us but through these shows we hope that they will give us that push. It is not useful to be popular outside the country and not known where you come from and that is the reason why we want to have more shows in the country,” Duduzile Sibanda.

“More local shows mean more people who will know our music and we can promote our debut album Thina.”

She said part of their plans was to perform in all the major festivals in the country which they had applied for.

“There are many festivals in the country and we have applied to perform at all of them. We are hoping festivals such as Hifa, Intwasa, Ibumba, and so on shall consider our applications,” said Sibanda.

She said having more shows in the country did not mean they had cancelled their tours of Europe.

“Nobuntu will continue touring Europe as usual; it’s only that the schedule will be tighter for us. In June July we are going to Czech Republic, Austria, Germany and Switzerland and then in December we go back to tour Germany and Austria,” said Sibanda.

She said the group was on a month-long break after a busy tour of Europe and started rehearsing two weeks ago.

“While people will be enjoying the festive season we will be hard at work. So when we returned from our Germany and Belgium tour we took a break,” Sibanda said.

She said they had been rehearsing so that they are polished when they go to 13th District Studios to record.

“We are preparing to record our two albums slated for mid-February.

“We have been rehearsing at Ndlovu Club in Tshabalala for the past two weeks in preparation for the album recordings. We want to be a well polished act,” said Sibanda.