Busi Ncube set to rock Esigodini

ONE of Zimbabwe's revered songbirds Busi Ncube who is in the country, is set to treat her folks to a musical fest as she performs in her hometown Esigodini for the first time in her career spanning almost two decades.

Ncube is one of the founding members of the group Ilanga, regarded as the most talented musical group to emerge from the local music scene as it boasted good and versatile vocalists and instrumentalists.

The Norway-based vocalist and mbira player said she would be making a debut appearance in Esigodini as a "prodigal daughter".

"All my life I have never performed in Esigodini, my home area, where I grew up.

"This would be my first time performing there and I am really looking forward to it," said Ncube.

The True Love hitmaker said she will perform at Jabula Inn on 26 April.

"Surprisingly I have performed in different parts of the world but I have never performed for my own people in Esigodini," she said.

Ncube, a mother of two, Tendai (27) and Angela (22), said a lot of people were calling on her to come back and settle home.

"A lot of people want me back but I have other projects back there that I have to deal with and finish.

Firstly I am a music teacher at Majorstua School in Norway and my students have to graduate after every three years so I would have let them down if I move back here.

And secondly my daughter Angela is at university in Scotland, so I must be close to her and it won't be easy raising funds for her when I am here," said the veteran singer.

Ncube who is in the country for the Harare International Festival of the Arts is said to have put up a great show when she performed with one of the fast rising jazz divas Edith WeUtonga Katiji in Harare last week.

"I came for shows, here I had arranged for the shows at Book Café in December last year, you know home is best and that is why I come here regularly.

Musically I am doing well in Norway, but it always feels great coming home," she added.

Busi, as she is affectionately known, said it was always a touching moment when fans ask her to play tracks from the group Ilanga.

"It's really sad when it happens because it always reminds me of the good old days, but I just have to do it to keep the legacy," she said.

Ncube who has an album Salulandela said she had the opportunity of performing with the Superstar Oliver Mtukudzi at the 02 Zone in the United Kingdom early this year.

The singer said she was in the studio recording a new album to be mastered in Norway.

"After my shows, I will be working on forthcoming album, but now I need inspiration from my people.

I will record it here and it will be re-produced and mastered in Norway," said the dreadlocked artiste.

In a new trend by the new crop of artistes such as Hope Masike, Prudence-Katomeni Mbofana, and Rute Mbangwa who have confined their act to corporate and private functions, Ncube said her music was for both the poor and the rich.

"I do not have a target audience, I believe music is for all the people, I perform anywhere and even for the poorest," she said.

Ncube who is turning 50 on 15 June this year encouraged female artistes to work hard to make it in the volatile industry.

"I had to struggle to make it in the industry; it is not easy if you are a woman. We must avoid being stigmatised and taken for granted out there," she said.

Ncube rose to stardom back in the day with the group Ilanga which was made up of the late Andy Brown, Don Gumbo, Adam Chisvo, Keith Farquharson, Virgillio Ignacio, Charles Mangena and Gibson Nyoni.

When Mangena left he was replaced by the late Chisvo as the percussionist.

In the past few years, the group was planning a re-union but the plans fell by the wayside as some of the original members Gumbo, Chisvo and Brown passed on.