Preserving cultural heritage is now very important as the global village we now live in is seeing the dilution and in some cases annihilation of once revered cultural values.
One of the ways to preserve culture is through curating content which has robust cultural roots and is appealing to the young and the old.
The former group is more critical as they are the torch bearers for generations to come.
In this regard, 11 Bulawayo based acts have collaborated on a very interesting project dubbed, ‘Songs of the great Ndebele Queen, Lozikeyi of Lobengula’.
The project came into being after a scintillating performance and rave reviews of the initial collaboration staged at Bulawayo Arts Festival in June 2021.
‘Songs of Queen Lozikeyi’ portrays a vivid image of the queen’s power, energy and leadership, a six- track album of high-energy foot-tappers and haunting ballads, interspersed with poetry by two young poets in the style of traditional praise poetry for African Kings in the Ndebele culture.
Lead singers and songwriters are ThandyDhlana and Nomathamsanqa ‘Nkwali’ Mkwananzi, along with poets SithandazileDube, and ThandokuhleSibanda, musicians Prince Joel Nyoni (keyb), Obey Mudiwa (drums), Paul Maseko (bass), MthabisiMoyo (guitar), Gomez Dube (percussion), VuyileQongo (saxophone), and Laura Ngwenya on backing vocals.
The recording is under the hand of engineer Erastus Nleya of Loud Records and Prince Joel Nyoni.
Featured poetry works are Amandlaand Call Me By My Nameby ThandoSibanda, and Sibongile
Ndlovukazi, Indlovukaziand KoBulawayoby SithandazileDube.
Musician Prince Joel Nyoni, who is a member of the award-winning group NgomaIngomaand music director and arranger for the Queen Lozikeyi project said, “I am very happy about this project because it’s something that we’ve been waiting for. We have celebrated so many people’s histories – we know about Snow White, Julius Caesar and MbuyaNehanda, but I feel like we didn’t know a lot about who Lobengula’s wife was, and what better way to bring her out than through music? I think the idea of sharing this knowledge through music is great, so that besides people seeing it, it can be archived for future generations. Not only for Bulawayo but for Zimbabwe overall, as she was also instrumental in the Ndebele resistance.
“I’m very happy to be part of the project and the fact that I was working with amazing team of musicians and great singers. Also thanks to Nhimbe Trust, Josh Nyapimbi and SaimonMambazoPhiri for the opportunity, and for actually coming up with the idea where we can finally document.
Lozikeyi as the queen that she was and reveal to people her influence in the struggle for justice in colonial times.
Both the lyrical content and musical effect are just beautiful; and the story is not finished, we still want to make it bigger, add more music. There are so many stories to tell – of women’s empowerment, encouragement, exhortation and celebration.”
Nyoni said the music developed as rooted in traditional Ndebele folk style with strong vocals and drums, but also modernised with western instrument effects. Where Nkwali’s music keeps close to the traditional styles, Thandy breaks into afrojazz. The track Mbungazeniis infused with the maskandistyle which is celebrated in the Southern Africa region. Sizopikafuses the past and the present, with different Ndebele and other traditional music styles, and the music also employs elements of east and west African flavours.
Local and international tour arrangements are underway.
The exciting SONGS OF QUEEN LOZIKEYI will be streaming online at the end of September.
