The Sunday Mail
Andrew Moyo – Leisure Correspondent
Matabeleland is a thriving cultural hub which has given birth to a host of talented artists who have gone on to conquer the country and beyond.
From poetry through to theatre and music, there is no doubt about the artistic prowess of individuals who have been nurtured in this part of Zimbabwe.
The likes of Albert Nyathi, Dudu Manhenga and Iyasa – to name just a few – are household names in the arts industry after honing their art in Matabeleland.
And you can add Ndolowani Super Sounds to that list.
The group was quite visible on the music scene in the ‘90s and then went off the radar.
Now it has resurfaced and intends to make a statement once again.
Martin Sibanda, the front man, came onto the scene in 1993 when he joined the group the Big Four, which was latter on changed to Ndolowani Super Sounds, who went on to release 14 albums with major success before a split in 2011.
The schism came when their music was not generating much income as piracy rose and little money found its way into the pockets of artists.
The result was the creation of a rival band called Ndolowani Super Sounds Amangwe One.
Sibanda’s group has bounced back into the limelight with a well-received album.
And his efforts have been appreciated by the corporate sector as Savanna Tobacco recently added him to their list of brand ambassadors alongside other singers Jah Prayzah, Tocky Vibes and Sulumani Chimbetu.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail Leisure after he was unveiled as Savanna Tobacco brand ambassador, Sibanda said hard work and dedication had brought him thus far.
“When the group hit a rocky patch I didn’t give up and kept on pushing my music and today I am glad it has paid off,” said Sibanda.
He said there is no bad blood between him and his former partner because the split was amicable.
“My partner decided he wanted to pursue another career when music was not making much money and I carried on but since music is like a part of us he ended up doing music again but this time on his own,” said Sibanda.
“My partner actually recorded first before I did my own solo project but I am just grateful my album was a success.”
Sibanda, like many other artists the world over, blames piracy as a major crisis.
“We have realised that it’s much more profitable to market and sell our music during our shows because we cannot compete with these guys who are selling on the streets,” said Sibanda. “These days most of the money we make comes from shows because we are facing the challenge of pricing when it comes to selling CDs with pirated material being sold for close to nothing.”
Sibanda said 2014 was a good and busy year for him as he toured the entire Matabeleland region as well as Midlands province.
“This year I think I am going to expand my reach and tour the rest of the country and my fans should be ready for a new album.”
Sibanda says the Savanna endorsement has t
aken his career to another level.
“I am so honoured to be part of such a big brand like Savanna and I will represent this brand with pride.”
Savanna Tobacco head of marketing Gerald Gumbo described Sibanda as an innovative and appealing individual.
“Your innovation, your cross-linguistic appeal, and your adventurous spirit shows that you can be a dread, and still be a successful businessman,” said Gumbo.
