Ishmael Mkandla
TRADITIONAL music artist, Jikijela Tjibale Gumbo says he misses with nostalgia past events of the Lupane Festival of Arts.
Gumbo blames Covid-19 for disrupting the holding of the arts festival.
He also blames the pandemic for slowing his growth in music as the entertainment industry was banned from holding public events as a preventive measure.
“Each year we compose a new song which should be a theme for that year. However, because of Covid-19 restrictions, we have failed to compose new songs for the year but our desire is to continue this year as we plan to resuscitate the hosting the Lupane Festival of Arts,” Gumbo said.
“In August especially when people have just finished harvesting thus when we play our music more people will be having both traditional and Christian ceremonies like mbuyiso(memorial services),izihonqo (seventh day camp meetings) imithethelo(traditional)
“I do traditional music more often. My instrument is called imbila in Kalanga and in Shona is called Mbira. They added an ‘R’ however it means the same as you know the Kalanga people originated from the same area.”
Gumbo did not miss an opportunity to share the story of gone by good days when he travelled out of the country for a musical show.
“The furthest I went with this kind of music is when I went to Montclair motel when this country was still called Rhodesia. I went there aboard Air Rhodesia; this was after I had played at trade fair grounds,” he said.
