Prominance Sinomusa Khumalo
Despite their age, Mbaqanga Kings, the Soul Brothers, dished out a stellar performance to a sizable audience that turned out for the South African group’s concert at the Large City Hall on Thursday.
Never mind that the show only kicked off at midnight after a six hour delay, the Isigebengu hit makers compensated for that with well choreographed dance moves as they sang hit after hit.
The Black Moses frontes outfit took to the stage with Salibonani Bantu Bakithi (Hello My People) with new lead singer Thokozani Langa wowing the crowd with his silky voice. Langa took over from David Masondo who passed on in 2015.
The crowd which features mostly mature revellers was kept on it’s feet until the wee hours of the morning. Every song was accompanied by a different dance routine of dazzling body and footwork. The thousand plus crowd sang along to hits such as Hamba Hluphekile. The Soul Brothers used a live band something local audiences have not been exposed to for a long time due to the fact that most Morden artists that appeal to “Ama2000” who employ digital sets in which back up tracks are played.
The band’s front man Moses Ngwenya said the group is here to stay since it’s formation.
“This brand is too big to just let it die. We are popular all over the Southern Africa, we have lost too many band members over the years, we however will not stop this music is just too good”,
he said.
Those that have passed on include David Masondo (2015) American Zulu (1982) and Tuza Mthethwa (1979).
To under score what Black Moses meant when he said “The music is too good”, one Foster Mbewe claimed to have flown from the United Kingdom for this Bulawayo gig.
“I have a personal relationship with Moses Ngwenya and when I heard that they will be perform
o I promised him that I will come and watch their Bulawayo show”, Mbewe said to Zim GBC News.
While the avarage age of the audience that thronged the Large City Hall to watch the Soul Brothers was around 40 and above, Zim GBC News spotted a number of young people in the bracket of what people call Ama2000.
A 19 year old man who said his name was Siyabonga Ncube disclosed to this news crew that he thinks morden music cannot match the Soul Brothers sound.
“I do listen and love Amapiano but I don’t think they are anywhere close to the quality of the Soul Brothers”, he said.
Another youth, 18 year old Unathi however told this reporter that she was only at the show to accompany her grandmother.
“I have been forced to listen to this band by default because I am only accompanying my grandmother a great fan of the group”,
The Soul Brothers are a South African band that was formed forty years ago. They have released music in genres such as Mbaqanga, Folk music, county and soul. Some of their long term members have been Black Moses Ngwenya, David Masondo, Zanzele Zakes Mchunu, Tuza Mthethwa, The a American Zulu and Maxwell Mngadi, They have a rich discography that has releases such as uXolo, Indaba, Isicelo, Deliwe, Vala umlomo, Isigebengu and many other albums.