Zimpapers Logo

Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
IMBUBE group Black Umfolosi say they feel like the biblical prophet that is not appreciated in his home town, as they believe their music gets more appreciation overseas than in Zimbabwe. Reflecting on their one-month tour of Canada in July, where they performed at various festivals, the group’s founding member, Sotsha Moyo, said not many people in the country value their genre.

“Imbube isn’t appreciated in the country as much as overseas. When we tour overseas, we get a warm welcome and applause when we perform. There’s general appreciation of our music,” Moyo said. “However in Zimbabwe, we feel like the biblical verse which says a prophet is honoured everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.”

The Unity hit-makers who returned home from Canada last month said although travelling abroad was expensive, it was worth it as they reap benefits. “Although it’s expensive to travel out of the country when we tour, we sacrifice the little that we’ve got as we know we’ll be appreciated and be paid at the same time for our performances.

“They pay good money abroad and that’s where we make money to pay for our children’s school fees and our general upkeep,” he said. While in Canada, they performed at the Mariposa Folk and Elora Festivals both in Ontario, Mission Folk Festival in British Columbia and Festival International Nuits d’Afrique in Montreal.

Moyo said their international presence had earned them various gigs.

“Next year, we’ll be performing at a festival in America. It’ll be part of our annual Canadian tour itinerary. The finer details of where we’ll be performing will be released in due course,” said Moyo.

Formed in 1982, Black Umfolosi is one of the most-travelled groups in the country, having toured Asia, Australia, America and Europe during their three decades in the music industry.

The group was honoured last year at the Zimbabwe Music Awards where they walked away with the Best Acapella Album award for the Summertime album.