Meet Mlambos Express Band the true 'Super Legends' of rhumba

If you have never heard of or seen ace Zimbabwean Rhumba outfit known as Mlambos Express Band, OH!! MY GOD!!! You don't know what you are missing.

The Bulilima Mangwe District rooted group was founded in the early nineties by a highly talented young man from the little known village of Luvula. Fiselani Ngwenya, popularly known as SaMangwe grew up herding cattle like any other young man as per Kalanga traditions and norms. While herding cattle several games and entertainment sources are the order of the day and from these lots of talents are exposed.

SaMangwe and his home made tin, twine and plank guitar always emerged as the toast of the day in the grazing lands of the remote Bulilima Mangwe village. Whenever Fisani took to the stage a few overly excited herd boys would end up getting home with a few cows missing from their lot as they would lose concentration of the herd dancing to the irresistible rhumba beat from the young man.

Fiselani's musical accolade spread to nearby Khame and Masendu villages resulting in herdboys from those villages trooping to the Luvula grazing lands for the love of the great music from the young man who was the talk of every dip tank, grazing land and every borehole.

As the fame spread, Fiselani was joined by his brother Mordecai Ngwenya and his nephew (his sister's son), Obvious Dube setting up a band using makeshift instruments and calling themselves Abafana BakoMlambo. Mlambo was their father's second name.

Mordecai played makeshift drums made out of tins and bottle tops while Obvious and Fiselani played makeshift lead and rhythm guitars and doing the vocals. Abafana BakoMlambo grew popular in the village with people calling the OMlambo in short which gave rise to the name Mlambos (The Mlambos, English for OMlambo).

In the late nineties, the elder brother Mordecai made the great trek down south to Johannesburg promising to buy his siblings musical instruments as soon as he got a job in the City of Gold. When Mordecai left, the group was temporarily joined by a young drummer from a neighbouring village who the group only remember as Nje.



True to his word, Mordecai bought the group their very first set of musical instruments, three electric guitars and a set of drums. It was at this stage that the group was joined by Mlungisi "Ncane" Sibanda, Bandlululo Nyoni and the late great Thuthani "Superstar" Ndlovu popularly known as Mabaretha. Mabaretha was tragically killed by a Somali businessman while the group was doing a CD promotion in Diepsloot Johannesburg in May 2013.

With the new musical instruments and a bigger ensemble, Abafana BakoMlambo then englished as Mlambos, got massive recognition in the Bulilima Mangwe area. They started being invited to perform at weddings and parties for a little fee. Local business people also started inviting the group to perform at their businesses. The rest became history.

Using the little revenue from the hires, Mlambos recorded their first album, "Imfundo Yimpilo" in 2002 at Moonlight Studios Bulawayo. The album was an instant hit in the Plumtree Districts selling over a thousand copies within a few weeks of release. That was the rise of the band whose fans prefer to call the Super Legends.

With fame and demand catching up with the band, they released their second album, "Umkhandi Wemali" which also sold like hot cakes drawing lots of fans for the group from even as far afield as South Africa, Botswana nd the UK.

Due to popular demand from their fans, the group moved to establish a base in South Africa. In South Africa the group has attracted a huge following and have since recorded six more albums and two DVDs. The six albums recorded in a very short space of time of each other continue to take the Zimbabwean Rhumba music market by storm. Mlambos boast of music lyrics and dance routines that are very family friendly and appeal across to all age groups of a family.

The nine member group has had the opportunity to share the stage with some Zimbabwean greats like Suluman Chimbetu and Ndux Junior and have always come out tops and envy a chance to share the stage with their icon Alick Macheso or the great Oliver Mtukudzi. The group has also made an appeal to the Zimbabwean government authorities to think about them when it comes to state functions like the musical galas that government organises to commemorate national events.

Speaking on behalf of the band, the Band Manager, Thabani Ndlovu appealed to their fans to stop buying pirated music as it is affecting their revenue and growth. He also thanked their fans from all over the world for their support and promised more of Mlambos music.

If you haven't had a chance to experience the Super Legends I repeat you don't know what you are missing. The group's other six albuma are, Isimo Sempilo, Batswana, Umhambi, Hlala Bemsola, Isibango Esikhulu and AmaFacebook. Two DVD compilations have also been released, Sitshintsha Amagiya Volume 1 and Sidlala Unyawo Volume 2.

For sure "Injalo lento" as their slogan goes.

Mlambos Express Band are contactable on their Facebook Page or through the Band Manager Thabani Ndlovu on Cell: +27767740094 or +27823516398 or visit www.mlambosexpressband.co.za