Nobuntu
‘INGANEKWANE’
-Folk Tales-
Duduzile Sibanda Inganekwane
Duduzile Sibanda Nanguyana
Simphiwe Dana Cula Ukunyathela
Ndebele Traditional: Rearranged by Nobuntu Nyawo Lwami
Joseph Tshabalala Homeless
Thandeka Moyo Linso Lyamoyo
Shona Traditional: Rearranged by Nobuntu Mhondoro
Zanele Manhenga Black Tax
Duduzile Sibanda, Zanele Manhenga Qina
Bill Withers Lean On Me
Letta Mbulu Not Yet Uhuru
Zanele Manhenga Avumile
Thandeka Moyo Unkulunkulu Muhle
Curtis Mayfield People Get Ready
1. INGANEKWANE
Inganekwane is Ndebele for folktale. A story told in song form. This folktale tells us how the beauty of the universe is composed of many species including the human race itself.
2. NANGUYANA
A wedding in our culture is a big and celebrated event. We celebrate the arrival of the bride and we are in awe of how she looks.
3. CULA UKUNYATHELA
A song by Simphiwe Dana a South African songstress who inspires the jazzy side of our music.
4. NYAWO LWAMI
Nyawo Lwami is a traditional Ndebele song that accompanies “Isitshikitsha” a type of Ndebele traditional dance. It is sung in traditional ceremonies and many other celebratory events.
5. HOMELESS
This song honours the pioneers of “lmbube” music. Lady Smith Black Mambazo have taken Imbube music to world stages.
6. LINSO LYAMOYO
This is a song in Tonga language, one of the languages spoken in Zimbabwe. It means the eye of the heart. It talks about our dreams and aspirations as people; dreams that if we don't achieve, we are left broken. The song also advises people to let other people live their dreams because they will be unhappy if they don't.
7. MHONDORO
A Shona traditional song performed at rain making ceremonies.
8. BLACK TAX
Traditionally in our culture, parents and grandparents are taken care of, by their children. It’s a duty and an honour to be able to take care of your parents regardless of your circumstances. However in the past years, because of cultural integration some people feel burdened to take care of their loved ones and call it “Black Tax”. We as Nobuntu say there is no such thing as black tax. Be glad that you are able to take care of your parents.
9. QINA
This song encourages women to be strong and not always to be advocated for. If you don't stand up for yourself no one else will.
10. LEAN ON ME
This is a song by Bill withers about friendly support during difficult times. Nobuntu do a rendition of this much needed message that strengthens the bond between people.
11. NOT YET UHURU
A Letta Mbulu song, Not yet uhuru means we are not yet free. This song was released in the early years South Africa got its independence from the Apartheid system. We as Nobuntu feel this song still rings true now as it did then. We are not yet free as a society; if women do not have equal opportunities and equal pay with our male counterparts.
12. AVUMILE
This is a victory song
13. UNKULUNKULU MUHLE
This song praises the presence of Godand the beauty this brings in people’s lives all the time.
14. INGANEKWANE OUTRO
When a folktale has finished we all must take a lesson from the story and apply the knowledge to our very existence
Bonus Performance
15. PEOPLE GET READY
A gospel influenced track that displayed the growing sense of social and political awareness in 60’s America.
Nobuntu
Nobuntu, the female a cappella quartet from Zimbabwe, has drawn international acclaim for its inventive performances that range from traditional Zimbabwean songs to Afro Jazz to Gospel. The ensemble’s concerts are performed with pure voices, augmented by minimalistic percussion, traditional instruments such as the Mbira (thumb piano) and organic, authentic dance movements.
Nobuntu was nominated for Best Musician of the Year at the Zimbabwe International Women Awards in London in 2015 and are currently a two-time winner for the Best Imbube Group at the Bulawayo Arts Awards 2017 and 2019. In the last few seasons, the quintet has performed at festivals and concert halls in Italy, Austria, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic and throughout the African continent. The ensemble was a huge critical success at “Trans-Vocal” in Frankfurt and “Voice Mania” in Vienna. Their first tour to Canada, in 2016, included performances in Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Victoria.
The word Nobuntu is an African concept that values humbleness, love, unity and family from a woman’s perspective. The ensemble represents a new generation of young African women singers who celebrate and preserve their culture, beauty, and heritage through art. The ensemble’s mission is the belief that music can be an important vehicle for change, one that transcends racial, tribal, religious, gender, and economic boundaries.
Back at home, Nobuntu holds a number of community initiatives, one of which is The Nobuntu Pad Bank where they gather sanitary pads for young women in the arts in underprivileged communities.
Nobuntu has released three recordings – Thina in 2013, Ekhaya in 2016 and Obabes beMbube in 2018. The group has made dozens of television and radio appearances throughout Africa and Europe promoting these recordings and the culture of their homeland.
Exclusive management for Nobuntu: Alliance Artist Management.
Duduzile Sibanda
Zanele Manhenga
Thandeka Moyo
Joyline Sibanda
Duduzile Sibanda is a self taught singer and song writer who discovered her ability to sing at a very young age. Coming from a music-loving family she grew up singing at family gatherings, church functions, and in the school choir. Her passion for performing has continued to grow.
After high school, Duduzile pursued music as a backing singer for local musicians like Khulekani Bhethule (Khuxxman), Zenzele Ndebele, Gabs Fire, Mjox and many more. She also worked vocally on a series of jingles for Radio Dialogue.
In 2011 she joined a theatre project titled ‘Stitcha’ produced by Qhube Productions where she further explored her music career as well as theatre. After Stitsha she began doing backing vocals for Ramadu, an Austrian based musician, who at the time, was working on his release ‘Zim Classics’.
Duduzile joined Nobuntu when the group was founded. She is a singer, songwriter and dancer on both albums, (THINA and EKHAYA).
In 2016, Duduzile, along with friend and fellow Nobuntu member, Zanele Manhenga, started uMuz’Wentombi (The House of Woman), a culture and arts platform meant to bring women together in the city of Bulawayo.
Zanele Manhenga is a talented singer, songwriter and poet who began her journey as a child singing at family gatherings together with her older sister, afro-jazz artist Dudu Manhenga.
She has also appeared numerous times as a performer and an MC at the Sistaz Open Mic, a Pamberi Trust initiative to give young and upcoming female artists a platform to enter the mainstream of the arts in Harare. In addition to the open Mic sessions, she has attended several grooming workshops under the gender project F.L.A.M.E. This has contributed to her growth and confidence along her musical journey.
Zanele has performed, recorded, toured and been mentored by Dudu Manhenga and Color Blu in South Africa and Mozambique. She has also performed as a background vocalist for many artists including Pastor Gee, Ignatious Mabasa, Ronny Roots, Bob Nyabinde, Jeys Marabini, Lwazi Shabangu, Cool Crooners to mention but a few. With these and other artists she has performed at Harare International Festival of the Arts HIFA (2007), Beira Jazz festival (Mozambique 2009), Harare Jazz Festival 2010-2012, Grahamstown Arts Festival (South Africa 2009-2010), October Jazz (2011-2014) and Bob Marley Commemoration (2012)
In 2011 Zanele Manhenga studied for a National Certificate in Musicology at the Zimbabwe College of Music where she trained with various instruments including the Mbira and traditional Zimbabwe dance among other subjects.
Zanele released a single online called Nginje in 2013.
In 2014 Zanele Manhenga was signed by 10th District Music and joined Nobuntu. She has since contributed songs on the latest Nobuntu album EKHAYA. She is the Mbira player of the group, a singer and songwriter.
Thandeka Moyo is a talented songwriter, singer, dancer, Make-up Artist and Designer. She started singing in high school at St Columbus in 2003 and was very much involved with the high school choir.
From 2008-2010 she went to study Cosmetology at Bulawayo Polytechnic and focused on Image Consultancy and Personal Grooming. During this time, she joined the Bulawayo Polytechnic Choir and performed in District Competitions.
Since then she has managed to work with upcoming Artists in Zimbabwe including the UK based Gospel artist Nkosie ka Ndlovu and Afro-Soul artist Mduduzi Ngoma.
Thandeka joined Nobuntu in September 2014.
Joyline Sibanda is a talented dancer and singer who started performing in 2004 at Vuka Africa and with Cont Mhlanga in a show called Mzilikazi. She then worked with Friends of Joshua as a dancer and singer of INDLOVUKAZI Zikanyongola. In 2011 she toured Germany with lntombi Zomqangala.
Joyline Sibanda is a singer and dancer and original member of Nobuntu.
