Johwa's Album A Sizzler

BABOKI KAYAWE
Staff Writer | Monday May 31, 2010 00:00

 

When she went to Domboshaba hills she found a creature with a face of a human being and a body of a large snake under a big rock in the cave. The girl began to sing a song and the creature followed her to the compound and it licked the wound of the old man until he was healed. The old man then said to the creature, 'I don't have anything to give you for what you have done for me, I shall arrange lobola and a feast for you and my daughter to marry'...then the creature transformed into a handsome young man. These are the introductory words of Kalanga music legend Ndingo Johwa's Nkabaile from the album, Batalaunda. Nkabaile and many more of the baritone voiced legend's splendid folk songs were performed live to lovers of Kalanga folk music in a fund-raising concert to take Kalanga culture to greater heights. 

Good music, no matter the element of language barrier never ceases to be appreciated; Johwa's work is one of those that are fine and most sweet even to non-Kalanga speakers.

He serenaded revellers at Maitisong hall last Friday as they rhythmically responded to the challenge that Johwa put before them - that could never go unappreciated. Like always, this is a performer who never disappoints, with a voice so tailored for the job and an equal sense of passion together with his sweet-voiced back up vocals Johwa's ensemble did it for the night.

Performing along side a Kalanga group by the name Kunjelele traditional group and talented folklore guitarist Ntirelang Berman, it was just spectacular. Berman, with his proficiency in the Setswana spoken-word rich in proverbs and idioms left the audience in laughter. Initially, the audience seemed not to welcome him as he was the only performer who employed Setswana, the man's abilities did it for him - the audience's ears danced to the tune of his music.

With Moratiwa, a love song, which he did mostly with closed eyes and a passion too immense it could be touched, is really one of his best. It is only sad that despite the realness of the song on stage, Berman says that he can only see his lover in dreams.

The concert is the first activity towards raising funds for the construction of the Domboshaba cultural village, Domboshaba Cultural Trust chairperson, Chigedze Chinyepi, said before the concert started. Johwa, being a member and regular performer for Domboshaba, joined hands with the trust to bring money in its basket to finance what is envisaged to be a truly Kalanga village filled with activities that would promote the Kalanga culture throughout the year; where stories such as that of a Kalanga girl whose father sent her to the Domboshaba hills to look for his healer will be told on a daily basis by seasoned Kalanga folk tellers and orators. The concert is also in preparation for the Domboshaba 10th anniversary that will be combined with the annual festival on October 2.