Brighton Zimidzi
Asante – Mo, a Bulawayo based Afro-Tech music have booked Bulawayo theatre club as the venue for their long awaited production ‘iHosanna the dancing drums’ on the 21st of February 2023.
The trio which comprises of Newman Trindad, Bekithemba Phiri and Aaron Chikondawanga will be presenting the production which tells a story about consulting African ancestors on many pertinent issues including asking for rain and a good harvest. The ceremony also served as a cleansing event ritual, ridding the earth of evil spirits. The process is believed that it always ended up with good rains falling and people having bumper harvests.
“In iHossana the dancing drum, we will be telling a story of how Southern African people ask for the rain from the ancestors, however this time the story is told with a difference as modern technology (electronic music) is used to tell the story. We realised that most young people would not understand the story if it was going to be told the old theatre way”, said Trindad.
Asante- Mo was formed in 2020 during the Covid 19 quarantine days. It was formed when award winning musician born Nomathamsanqa Mkhwananzi popularly known as Nkwali suggested that they should come together and form a music and dance group.
The trio does not only play drums and dance to electronic music, but they can also sing and act. They are all former students of the Bulawayo based arts institution Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts (IYASA).
When asked by ZIM GBC NEWS on why the trio left IYASA, Trindad said:
“We did not leave IYASA. IYASA is a school of arts where people learn all forms of performing arts and how to use the knowledge and skill acquired individually. So since it is a school, you are taught to use the skill to eventually stand on your own”.
Phiri was at IYASA for fourteen years while Trindad and Chikondawanga were there for eight and six years respectively. Under IYASA, the trio got a chance to showcase their talent in countries like Germany, South Africa and Malawi among others.
Asante-Mo is this year planning to perform at different theaters within the country and in some countries in the Southern African region. They also intend to release a new music album in June.