www.eddbateman.com

Bulawayo - Zimbabwean Dance Band
 

The infectious music of Bulawayo, Cecilia Ndhlovu's entrancing mbira thumb-piano and hypnotic and joyous Ndebele and Shona vocals take listeners on an educational journey through Zimbabwean tradition. Driven by classic jit-jive guitar and rolling chimurenga bass matched with the powerful drum patterns of modern Zimbabwe, the classic sound of Bulawayo has arrived.

Cecilia Ndhlovu - Mbira, vocals
Fidelis Mherembi - Marimba, Mbira
Simwinji Zeko - Lead guitar
Edd Bateman - Bass
Blaggy - Drumkit

Cecilia grew up in Bulawayo in Matabeleland, southern Zimbabwe. She learned to dance at school where because of her natural talent she was known as 'magida omncane' or little dancer.

When she was 16 she joined the national dance troupe Black Umfolosi and several years later she began to sing, dance and tour the world with one of Zimbabwe's biggest stars, Oliver Mtukudzi. She worked with Oliver for 6 years and recorded 5 albums before moving to England.

Now with a five strong line up of mbira, guitar, bass, drumkit and marimba the group reflects the sound of modern Zimbabwean dance bands with a universal energy that appeals to all.

Samples

Mbuya Ndoyenda

Chikende

©Anita Hummel www.2dv.co.uk

The CD below is available at £9.99 + p&p - email: eddb8man@hotmail.co.uk

Track list:

1. Vanondokayiwa - A song about a troubled man struggling to feed his family
2. Chikende - Remember to eat before you go dancing
3. Lamlela - Staying silent is the only way to survive after being attacked for speaking out
4. Mbuya Ndoyenda - A young man in too much of a hurry to eat his mother in law's cooking
5. Wembombela - Dedicated to all Zimbabweans forced to cross the border to South Africa
6. Ndoyenda - If you bring another woman into our relationship, I'm leaving!
7. Urombo - When you are in poverty your friends are few
8. Ukhozi (Live) - The black and white bird that saved me