Sibusiswe "Busi" Ncube (born 15 June 1963) [1] is a female mbira musician and singer from Zimbabwe, who sings in six African languages. [2] She play the guitar, mbira and percussions. [3]
She was a member of the Afro-Fusion group Ilanga; the group released three albums during the 1980s, and played during the 1988 Human Rights Now! concert. [4] She have been in the music industry for the past 34 years as a recording and performing artiste. Other than music, she is a teacher by profession and she now teaches in Norway. [3]
Busi and her Twin were Born in Bulawayo. She is a mother of two children Tendai and Angeline [5]
Ncube later recorded eight albums with a backing band, "Rain", including Malaisha and Live in Prague. Her most famous song is True Love recorded during her time with the band Ilanga. [6] The band toured Norway in 2006 and appeared at the Mela Festival. [7] [8] Ncube has also contributed to another Thulani project, all-star collaboration album "Hupenyu Kumusha/Life at Home," released in 2006, which featured several notable Zimbabwean musicians, including Chiwoniso Maraire, Roger Mbambo, Adam Chisvo and Mashasha. [9] Busi currently divides her time between Harare and Oslo, where she teaches and performs.
Zimbabwean music is heavily reliant on the use of instruments such as the mbira, Ngoma drums and hosho. Their music symbolizes much more than a simple rhythm, as the folk and pop style styled music was used as a symbol of hope for Zimbabweans looking to gain independence from Rhodesia. Music has played a significant role in the history of Zimbabwe, from a vital role in the traditional Bira ceremony used to call on ancestral spirits, to protest songs during the struggle for independence. The community in Zimbabwe used music to voice their resistance to their oppression, as one of the only weapons they had available to fight back with. In the eighties, the Music of Zimbabwe was at the center of the African Music scene thanks to genres such as Sungura and Jit. However, several performers were banned by state TV and radio leading to the closing of several music venues.
Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo is a Zimbabwean musician. He is nicknamed "The Lion of Zimbabwe" and "Mukanya" for his immense popularity and for the political influence he wields through his music, including his sharp criticism of the government of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. He both created and popularized Chimurenga music, and is known for his distinctive voice and slow-moving style.
Ephat Mujuru (1950–2001), was a Zimbabwean musician, one of the 20th century's finest players of the mbira, a traditional instrument of the Shona ethnic group of Zimbabwe.
Abraham Dumisani Maraire, known to friends as "Dumi", was a Zimbabwean musician. He was a master performer of the mbira, a traditional instrument of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. He specialized in the form of mbira called nyunga nyunga, as well as the Zimbabwean marimba. He introduced Zimbabwean music to North America, initiating a flourishing of Zimbabwean music in the Pacific Northwest that continues into the 21st century.
Joram Macdonald Gumbo is a Zimbabwean politician, member of parliament, former member of the Pan-African Parliament from Zimbabwe, and former cabinet minister. He is a member of the Zanu-PF party.
Musekiwa Chingodza is a Zimbabwean mbira and marimba player and teacher. He was born in 1970 in Zimbabwe.
Chartwell Shorayi Dutiro was a Zimbabwean musician, who started playing mbira when he was four years old at the protected village, Kagande; about two hours drive from Harare, where his family was moved by the Salvation Army missionaries during the Chimurenga. Even though the missionaries had banned traditional music, he learned to play from his brother and other village elders. His mother also encouraged him through her singing of traditional songs.
Chris Berry is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He plays the mbira and the ngoma drum, from the Shona people of Southern Africa. His records with the band Panjea have gone platinum in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. He has released over a dozen albums; scored the soundtrack for three films; and collaborated and performed with many other artists.
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Chiwoniso Maraire was a Zimbabwean singer, songwriter, and exponent of Zimbabwean mbira music. She was the daughter of Zimbabwean mbira master and teacher Dumisani Maraire. Describing the mbira, an instrument traditionally used by male musicians, she said, "It is like a large xylophone. It is everywhere in Africa under different names: sanza, kalimba, etc. For us in Zimbabwe it is the name for many string instruments. There are many kinds of mbiras. The one that I play is called the nyunga nyunga, which means sparkle-sparkle."
Winky D is a Zimbabwean reggae-dancehall artist, popularly known as "The Big Man". His music provides social commentary about Zimbabwean society.
Louis Mhlanga is a Zimbabwean artist based in South Africa, an award-winning guitarist and producer. Mhlanga taught himself to play the guitar at a young age and is considered one of the best Southern African guitarists.
Tongai Moyo was a contemporary Zimbabwean musician, often referred to as Dhewa. Born and raised in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe, Dhewa rose to fame in the late 1990s as a solo artist and with the band Utakataka Express. Highly successful singles including "Samanyemba", "Naye", and "Muchina Muhombe" led to his national, regional and international fame; he produced 14 albums in a career of over twenty years.
Peter Mujuru, known by his mononym Mashasha, is a Zimbabwean musician, bass guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer based in the UK. He is widely regarded as an original and important new voice in African music. His debut studio album, Mashasha, which was released by Elegwa Music in 2011; it was acclaimed by critics internationally and won a Zimbabwe Music and Arts (ZIMAA) award for Best Album.
Mukudzeyi Mukombe, better known as Jah Prayzah, is a Zimbabwean contemporary musician and lead member of the band Third Generation. Regarded as the most prolific musician of his generation in the country, he was popularly referred to by fans and media as "Masoja", the Shona word for "soldier", a name he earned mostly because of his signature band uniform of military regalia. The name "Jah Prayzah" comes from his name, "Mukudzeyi", which means "Praise Him".
Ruvimbo Hope Masike, professionally known as Hope Masike is a Zimbabwean musician and dancer. She is known as "The Princess of Mbira" and her music has its roots both in traditional and modern African culture. Hope is also the lead singer for Monoswezi. She initially studied Fine Art at Harare Polytechnic.
Tendazvaitwa Medea Chitimbe is a Zimbabwean dancehall musician who adopted the moniker ‘Ninja Lady’ from her boss and mentor Winky D who is called Ninja President by his legion of fans. She first rose to fame after featuring in Winky D's song Taitirana paFirst Sight in 2011.
The National Arts Merit Awards is a set of annual awards granted by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) in recognition of outstanding achievements in the arts and culture.
Ivy Kombo is a Zimbabwean gospel music artist and lawyer based in the United Kingdom. She is also co-founder of Nguva Yakwana Gospel Show.