Obert Tshabalala (Tshaka) was born 53 years ago in Sogwala area (Lower-Gwelo) and currently resides in Mkoba 5 and is a fine singer endowed with yodeling skills that can cause the audience to recall their past and typical Ndebele songs sang in the mediaeval. Below are excerpts from a recent interview with Caven Masuku.
Q. TELL ME IN SHORT: WHO IS TSHABALALA?
A. My full name is Obert Tshabalala and was born in Lower- Gwelo in 1953, under chief Sogwala. Currently, my family is in Zhombe together with other Qaphela Voice sound member’s.
Q.HOW MANY ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP MAMBERS?
A. We are a group of 9 members. Am the leader myself: Obert Tshaka Tshabalala, in addition they is Elliot Tshabalala, Shadreck Maphosa, Ziphandele Moyo, Clay Ngwenya, Paul Jogwe, Mkhululi Tshabalala, Nkosana Mpofu and Smart Tshuma.
Q. WHEN DID YOU START SINGIN?
A. Yes thank you so much! Well I started singing when I was a boy but began getting serious in 1980, when I had to sing for ZAPU PF. Those were the day’s when I was in Bulawayo and singing was for political purposes which could move people to action.
Q.EVERY TALENT HAS AN INSPIRATION AND IN YOUR CASE, WHO INSPIRED YOU?
A. Actually they are so many people who inspired me to sing Imbube songs. My brother Misheck Tsane and Gerode Tsane are my aspirators especially in 1970, during war time there were countless occasions where they sang with me. Amabhubesi and Ihawu Lesizwe from South Africa are the other groups among to be mentioned that inspired me.
Q.FROM YOUR PERCEPTION WHAT IS IMBUBE MUSIC?
A. Imbube music is typical Ndebele songs that are sang using pure voice that has no mix with guitars or piano’s. This genre of music was sung in the past for political and social gatherings like wedding’s and meeting, when presiding over some issues in the community.
Q.WHAT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT LIFE IN GENERAL DOES YOUR GENRE OF MUSIC IMPART TO THE COMMUNITY?
A. Imbube music imparts knowledge about the past, present and the future. It focuses on peoples problems that can be either political, social or entertainment. This type of music acts as a medicine that cleanses away evil spirits and perfect the society way of keeping up living standards.
Q.DOES YOUR MUSIC PROMOTES THE EXPERIENCES OF THE AUDIENCE?
A. Yes it does of course in various ways. It brands and blends knowledge and incites both the singer and the audience to share the feelings and to be in the same footing.
Q.ARE YOU GETTING ANY SUPPORT FROM NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL OF ZIMBABWE (NACZ)
A. Not really, but we are happy that they are making us famous and this in turn creates opportunities to mix with other singers. We would like to thank the previous ruling party of Zimbabwe, ZANU PF for the assistance they offered us sometime ago. They donated T-Shirts and other which amounted to a complete uniform kit for our group.NACZ assist us through Chibuku Road Fame, where we get awards for competing. But this has ceased for the past three years and by then we used to rehearse in places like Bulawayo, Mutare, Masvingo and Harare.
Q. HAVE YOU SHOWCASED EVER SINCE YOU STARTED SINGING?
A. Yeah! We have been moving around especially the entire Zhombe area. We have toured all schools in Zhombe and part of Lower-Gwelo like Dimbamiwa for the past three years.
Q . HOW TRUE IS THE ASSERTION THAT MUSIC IS ASSOCIATED WITH CULTURE?
A. That is very true in every sense. Like the Imbube music, as we sing we dance inquzu and sing in IsiNdebele proverbs and idioms, we whistle and ululate. At the moment we are looking for the traditional costume and will be happy if we find a helper. Basically all these reflect cultural aspects.
Q. WHAT ADVISE CAN YOU SHARE WITH OTHER ARTIST WHO ARE INTO SINGING LIKE YOU?
A. Youngster’s should dedicate themselves to their effort and unite. They should support each other and ovoid petty jealousy. This will elevate their zeal and make the UMthwakazi (nation) proud of their culture. They should not despise the traditional type of music in favour of Western Music. Our music is rich with local language adages, proverbs and idioms that can be used to chastise and castigate the bad conduct of the community members. Youngsters should use their voices to sing without instruments, since this at times can tarnish their quality voice.
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