By Fidelis Manyange
IN the early 2000s, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s ZTV dedicated considerable airplay to two of Nkosana Mthunzi’s videos, ‘Mama kaSibongile’ and ‘Kura Mwanangu’. It was ‘Mama kaSibongile’ that catapulted Mthunzi to instant fame.
On the track, Mthunzi sounds very much like popular South African yesteryear greats Amaswazi Emvelo of ‘Thul’ulalele’ fame. The heavily built afro-jazz artiste made waves in Harare at the peak of Josh Hozheri’s Jazz 105 where he collaborated with the creme de la creme of the capital’s jazz artistes — Friday Mbirimi (of Mbare Trio), Philip Svosve (one of the best saxophonists Zimbabwe has ever produced), ‘Chibaba Chetrombone’ Aaron Byron Yafele of Jabavu Drive and the versatile Clive ‘Mono’ Mukundu, among others. Although the two videos that made him famous are now gathering dust in the archives, Mthunzi is still making music and is currently in the studio working on his yet to be named sixth album.
George Maliyoni of iMusic Records is the producer. Now based in Ruwa, Mthunzi was born in Matabeleland South’s Insiza District in the early 1960s. He got hooked to music at an early age at the Brethren in Christ’s Church which he attended alongside his family. During his primary school days in Chiredzi, he was a member of the school choir, which gave the young Mthunzi the much needed exposure and confidence to sing before large audiences. Looking back, the afro-jazz artiste says: “In 1982, I joined a Zion church where singing and dancing were an integral part of the service,” said Mthunzi. “As energetic youngsters, this excited us beyond measure. As a result, we found ourselves singing and dancing all night long.”
“It was during that time that I polished my act in preparation for the next phase of my music career. “On completing my ‘A’-Levels at Bulawayo’s Gifford High School, I found myself working as a temporary teacher at various schools in order to fend for my family.”
Before long, he had joined the Tsholotsho-born maestro, Obediah ‘Dr Kanindo’ Matulana of Jet Sounds, famous for his hit song, ‘Divorce’. “Matulana provided me with instruments, his band and exposure. He taught me the basic art of making music both in the studio and on stage,” recalls Mthunzi. Those were the days of legendary musicians in the cast of Solomon Skuza, Christopher Shoko, Khumbulani Moyo, Busi Ncube, Don Gumbo and Lameck Moyo of Amabhubesi, among others. “In those days, instruments were quite expensive and hard to get.
Fortunately, Pastor Heney Sawasawa of the Unshakeable Pentecostal Church came to my rescue by offering me all his old church instruments for free when the church discarded them for a new set,” says Mthunzi. “Pastor Sawasawa turned payment when I offered to buy the instruments from him and when I was eventually in a position to replace them I donated the old set to an upcoming artiste.” Pastor Sawasawa died last year and he is fondly remembered for his philanthropy.
Mthunzi recalls an incident when he played to a ‘bumper’ crowd in Mabutweni, Bulawayo, only to realise very little by way of gate takings. This was because the majority of the ‘bumper’ crowd had got into the show venue via a hole in the perimeter fence.
To date, Mthunzi has recorded five albums — ‘Usikhatile’, ‘Umtshado’, ‘Six to Six’, ‘New Look’ and ‘Oimba MaZion/ Ayahlabela AmaZion’. The ‘New Look’ album was directed by Dingumuzi Phuti, aka DJ Phuti, who also serves as the Deputy Minister of Information Communication Technology as well as Member of Parliament for Bulilima constituency. Being the versatile artiste that he is, Mthunzi can adapt his voice to suit his fans’ diverse tastes. For example, on the track ‘Hauna Mari’, he sounds like the legendary Hugh Masekela. Meanwhile, Mthunzi — who is currently studying for a PhD in Peace and Governance Studies at Bindura State University — has been holding live shows and entertaining captains of industry at corporate functions with the help of saxophonist Baltimore Mudepu, vocalist Lwazi Tshabangu, backing vocalist Bethany Pasinawako Ngolomi, celebrated mbira diva Bella Chari, and son Vusumuzi Mthunzi who played saxophone for Sam Mtukudzi and Pastor Michael Mahendere. By the way, Vusumuzi also played at Prophet Makandiwa’s UFIC in addition to a stint as a member of the band at Prophet Walter Magaya’s PHD Ministries.
Now a full-time member of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) Mbungo Zimbabwe, Mthunzi has in the past also worked with top guitarists such as the late Serbian-born Luba Majanovich whom he collaborated with on the ‘New Look’ album. “Majanovich taught veteran guitarist Clive ‘Mono’ Mukundu quite a few rock guitar skills when we collaborated,” recalls Mthunzi.
The ‘Mama kaSibongile’ hitmaker is a full-time businessman in Ruwa as well as the vice-secretary of Harare Chamber of SMEs. In his spare time, he also doubles as as chairperson of Ruwa SMEs. Away from his already hectic business schedule, Mthunzi is a lecturer at the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology. But he insists that since music is his first love he will not abandon it for anything and promises more fireworks in the not-toodistant future.