Former schoolmates revive imbube group

After taking a sabbatical for nearly 14 years, imbube ensemble Ontaba Kayikhonjwa have come together and reestablished their acapella group.

The six men ensemble was founded by former school mates at Singwango Secondary School in Matabeleland South's Filabusi Silalatshani district under chief Sibasa.

The group comprises Mathanzima Dube, Forward Dube, Freedom Dube, Mlungisi Sibanda, Nkosana Dube and Msitheli Mnkandla.

The group was formed in 1999 and separated in 2005. Fate, however, reunited them in South Africa in October 2019.

"We started music way back in 1999 while we were still students at Singwango Secondary School in Filabusi, however, after finishing school in 2005 we went separate ways to pursue different goals.

"A majority of the group members relocated to South Africa in search for green pastures and this is a place where we united together in 2019 because we knew we were wasting the talent that God gave us," said Nkosana Dube, the group's spokesperson.

Ontaba Kayikhonjwa are already dusting of the microphone as they are working on their first ever album.

"It's a great thing that we reunited at an age where we are older and mature, and this has resulted in a more productive comeback. We are currently in the studio working on our first thirteen track album which will be released in March.

"We are calling upon different people especially from Filabusi to help us in any way to achieve our dreams because we are walking on this musical journey because of them," said Dube.

So far, the ensemble boasts of two singles titled UJesu Sezelwe and Say No To Women and Child Abuse.