The Travellers in new beginning

03 Nov, 2019 - 00:11 0 Views
The Travellers in new beginning

The Sunday Mail

Society Reporter

THE Travellers, that exciting band from the City of Progress, Gweru, launched “Mviro Mviro” at 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale on Friday.

Adrian Tate, DJ Smith and DJ Iroq were some of the artistes that were expected to take to the stage later that evening to help welcome the Gweru-based outfit’s newest baby.

The nine-track album consists of “Ngatifare”, Mwana Washe”, “Mari Dang”, “Muse- ngabere”, “Kaskoroskoro”, “Chandakatadza”, “One Day” featuring Man Soul Jah and “This Time Ma One” featuring Mr Pike.

The band describes its music as pure African “earthnicity”.

“It is organic, rich, vibrant and touches on the different genres that are born of the black race all over the world,” said The Travellers’ manager Bryn Kazingizi.

The launch was sponsored by Delta Beverages, Divine Concert Sound, ZOL, Upway Events, Digital Genius Pro and Kay Simmz Pix.

Those who have frequented places like Chop Chop restaurant or events like Unplugged are familiar with the band.

Last year, they surprised Unplugged fans when they dished out a world-class performance. At that gig, they made a grand entrance — sampling the instrumental for Drake’s “Hotline Bling” while doing their sound check.

They played with such finesse that everyone stopped what they were doing and put their attention on the stage.

After making sure that all systems were in order, they got right into it, giving music fans a taste of their compositions with a song titled “Mari Dang”, which got people hooked in an instant.

The group is just another side of internationally acclaimed band, Mokoomba, which hails from Victoria Falls, and was introduced to world music audiences through Music Crossroads.

Their original compositions are brilliant. There is no doubt that if they stick together they will, like Mokoomba, conquer the world.

Their new album, whose songs they have been performing around Zimbabwe and the region — are just a few airplays away from being on every music lover’s playlist.

When they perform live, though, it is the renditions that always shock the crowd. It is so hard to believe that a band can be so good with its own compositions and cover versions at the same time.

They give unique twists to popular numbers like Bob Marley’s “Iron Lion Zion”, Thomas Mapfumo’s “Nyoka Musango” or the well-liked Gqom, Amapiano and House songs from South Africa.

Formed in 2015, The Travellers is a six-member group consisting of Tafadzwa Mapaso, the lead guitarist; his twin brother Tatenda Mapaso, who plays the saxophone; Abel Munongi on the keyboard, Nicholas Dlodlo the percussionist, Liberty Chinouri on the bass guitar and Osborne Macheni the drummer.

While these talented artistes started off as session instrumentalists for the likes of Selmor Mtukudzi and The Movement, they later on decided to form their own band, thus the creation of The Travellers.

They have performed at many high-profile and corporate events, weddings and parties. They have been to the Loveworld Festival of Music and Arts in South Africa, the Harare International Festival of the Arts, Miombo Festival and Shoko Festival, among others.

The Travellers are the 2017 Chibuku Road to Fame winners. They walked away with US$7 000 prize money and a recording contract, which they have already taken advantage of through the recording and release of “Mviro Mviro”.

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