Ndolwane Super Sounds set to split

Charles Ndebele-Zwane and Martin Sibanda, key members of Ndolwane Super Sounds, are fighting over control of the band .

A few weeks ago, Sibanda announced that Ndebele-Zwane had requested a break from music. But Ndebele-Zwane, a founding member of Ndolwane Super Sounds, has opened up for the first time since Sibanda's announcement, dismissing the allegations that he had left the band.

Ndebele-Zwane said Sibanda was misleading their fans by saying that he had voluntarily left Ndolwane Super Sounds.

He insisted that Sibanda cannot hijack the band as he was merely invited to join well after he (Ndebele-Zwane) had been in the music industry.

"I will not go into detail on why I decided to part ways with Martin Sibanda but it is not true that I left Ndolwane Super Sounds," Ndebele-Zwane said.

He said he is a founder member of the band and leaving Ndolwane Super Sounds would be betrayal to his late cousin brother Abson Ndebele with whom he formed the band.

"Ndolwane Super Sounds was not formed in South Africa but it was started while we were still in Zimbabwe around 1986.

"By then it was I, Charles Ndebele-Zwane and my cousin Abson Ndebele and by then we were still in Grade Six in the village of Buche in Plumtree and by then Oliver Honest also had his own small band in Plumtree," he said.

"Soon after completing our Ordinary Levels, Abson Ndebele was the first person to cross the border going to South Africa and I later followed and we later met Kamanga.

"When we were in South Africa we sat down, the three of us and decided to revive our music careers and in 1993 we decided to form a group called the Big 4.

"We did live shows during that year and we toured countries like Botswana and Namibia and we learnt a lot as we were new to the touring business," he said.

Announcing Ndebele-Zwane's purported decision to rest recently, Sibanda claimed he "regretted" the move saying it had come as a blow to the band.

"We never fought but we sat down and talked about it," Sibanda said then.

"I understood his reasons and we agreed that if he forms a group, he will call it Charles Ndebele Ndolwane Super Sounds and mine also called Ndolwane Super Sounds. I know this will confuse fans, but that is all in honour of our departed colleagues."

But Ndebele-Zwane came out with his position on the apparent conflict in one of the most popular bands in the country.

He said at the beginning of 1994 Kamanga brought Sibanda and Develop Moyo who had shown an interest in joining the band.

"When these two guys came we welcomed them like our brothers and we sat down again and we decided to change the name of the band as we were now more than four band members," he said.

Ndebele-Zwane said in 1994 they decided to change the name of the band from Big 4 to Ndolwane Super Sounds considering that all of them are from Plumtree's Chief Ndolwane area.

"With this history that I have given you I think it is now clear to all our fans on which is the real Ndolwane Super Sounds," he said.

Ndebele-Zwane said Ndolwane Super Sounds is like a home that he built and he would stay in it.

"I have been a musician for my entire life and even after the death of Abson Ndebele I told myself that I was going to remain in the industry as a way of honouring him.

Despite the conflict, Ndebele-Zwane has just released a new album Azibuye Emasisweni, working with Ndolwane Super Sounds.
Sibanda said as far as he was concerned he was no longer working with Ndebele-Zwane.

"The problem now is if you call me I will give you my story and Ndebele-Zwane will give you his own story.

"The best way to prove this is by meeting both of us and find out what is happening but for now I am working alone," he said.