Africa-Press – Eswatini. TWO indigenous musicians Gogo Tfobhi Shongwe and Vusi Sibandze have been invited to perform at the North West University (NWU) next week.
The two will be joined by pianist Cara Stacey who is the University’s senior lecturer in African Music.
The sounds of indigenous music will be on display. The show dubbed is ‘Sounds from Eswatini’ and will be held at NWU on Tuesday.
The artists will showcase the beauty of Eswatini indigenous music.
Gogo Tfobhi Shongwe plays sitolotolo (mouth harp) and makhoyane(musical bow player) while Vusi Sibandze is a guitarist and vocalist.
He is also a music teacher at Sitsembiso Sebunye High School.
The concert forms part of the North-West University Annual Concert Series.
“The trio brings forward new arrangements of traditional repertoire and newly composed Swazi music from Mbabane, Mshingimshingini and eMphini,” reads the letter of invite.
The two will leave the country on Monday.
Sibandze said they were excited about the invitation stating that for them to be recognised by such a reputable institution meant their contribution in the preservation of indigenous music was an honour.
He said they would deliver their best and represent the country well during the concert.
He further explained that they would also take part in a workshop to be held on Wednesday where the students who deal with music, ecology and anthropology would have a question and answer session with the artists.
Information
“The workshop is for the students to get more information about our indigenous music,” he said.
Sibandze thanked all the people who supported indigenous music citing Jiggs Thorne of House on Fire as one of those. He said it was through the exposure they had received from House On Fire that they were able to attract the attention of such a reputable institution.
Meanwhile, Cara Stacey originates from Eswatini and went to Waterford, while the two artists are members of the building of bigger ensemble known as ‘Bashayi Bengoma’.
Cara explained that the trio brought forward new arrangements of traditional repertoire and newly-composed Swazi music from Mbabane, Mshingimshingini and eMphini.
These three multi-instrumentalists showcase a series of indigenous instruments from the small country of Eswatini supported by new vocal and guitar arrangements.
Gogo’s beautiful and plaintive voice is well-loved across “Eswatini and this concert would be a rare opportunity to hear her perform outside of her home country,” she said.
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