Breathtaking vocals and energetic dances, would describe the award-winning all-female Zimbabwean acapella group, Nobuntu.
Beginning 2011, the quintet incorporates pure voices, as well as traditional instruments, such as the Mbira (thumb piano) and dancing into their performances.
This all-female Zimbabwean acapella quintet will be enthralling Pasadenans on Friday, Nov. 11 at the Beckman Auditorium in Caltech.
Donning multi-coloured costumes during each performance, Nobuntu’s style spans a range of musical influences from traditional Zimbabwean songs, to afro-jazz, to gospel, reported Global Atlanta.
The Meaning of ‘Nobuntu’
“The word ‘Nobuntu’ is an African concept that values humbleness, love, unity and family from a woman’s perspective,” BYU Arts Producer Bridget Benton said, “The ensemble represents a new generation of young African women singers who celebrate and preserve their culture, beauty and heritage through art.”
Members of the group, who hailed from Zimbabwe include Zanele Manhenga, Thandeka Moyo, Duduzile Sibanda, Heather Dube and Joyline Sibanda.
“Nobunto means ‘mother of humanity,’” said group member Joyline Sibanda in an interview with wabe.com, an NPR affiliate for the metro Atlanta region.
“We come from Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe, and the language that’s mostly spoken that dominates is Ndebele. So, in Ndebele, ‘no’ stands for ‘mother,’ and ‘ubuntu’ is an umbrella term for everything that’s good. Love, peace, forgiveness and everything that a woman or a mother embraces. So we decided to call ourselves ‘the mothers of ubuntu.”
“The Nobuntu members have a love for music and find power in it. Duduzile Sibanda, who started singing at a young age, said, “Music is my first love and passion and through it I live,” reported Brigham Young University.
Speaking about the sound of their music in a different interview, Sibanda said they are rooted in traditional music and sounds, even drawing inspiration from them for newer compositions.
“Our sound is rooted mostly in our tradition, our traditional music, of which most of it is still undiscovered. But we know that it’s been passed to us from generation to generation,” said Duduzile in an interview with wabe.com.
“We have Shona origins, Heather [Dube] and Zanele [Manhenga] from the Shona tribe, and the rest of us are from the Ndebele tribe. So we have a fusion of both those traditions alongside with other tribes that come from the Matabeleland region where we come from in Zimbabwe. So our sound is mostly traditional music … and new compositions that we’ve composed over the years. But we are inspired more by our traditional music.”
Accolades
Over the years the group has been recognized by various award giving bodies for its out-of-this-world performances.
Nobuntu was nominated for Best Musician of the Year at the Zimbabwe International Women Awards in London in 2015 and is currently a two-time winner for the Best Imbube Group at the Bulawayo Arts Awards 2017 and 2019.
The Sunday Times of Germany called Nobuntu’s show “a vibrant and stunning performance full of sparkling energy.”
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune lauded the group’s “rich voices and exhilarating rhythms.”
This Nov. 11 Nobuntu will perform from 8-10 p.m. at Beckman Auditorium on Caltech campus.
Tickets cost between $10- $35. For more information call: 626-395-4652 or click here: https://events.caltech.edu/calendar/nobuntu-1
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