Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Trust Khosa
31 January 2008
Harare — Consistent sungura artiste Somandla Ndebele has released his 18th album titled Chitenderano that was recorded in South Africa.
Ndebele's refreshing effort comes with a DVD that was also done at Crossline Studios. Another South African company, Replication Pvt Ltd is distributing the album regionally while Metro Studios is the local distributor. What is most striking about Ndebele's well-knit effort is the depth it exhibits both lyrically and instrumentally.
Precisely, the expertise exhibited on this album affirms the wealth of experience Ndebele has acquired over the years since launching his career in 1989 when he was still a school pupil at Dzivarasekwa High 1. Ndebele has also worked with reputable artistes on this album and this could be the reason why the project is more mature as compared to the previous album Chidamoyo that was hurriedly done.
It was produced by Bothwell Nyamhondera with nomadic session musician Spencer Khumulani playing bass, Roderick Chemudara - formerly with the late John Chibadura - played both the bass and the rhythm guitar. Drummer Prince Vambe was the only youthful member featured on the album where Ndebele did both the lead and backing vocals.Chitenderano opens with the song Handingadaro Mhamha that comforts and exhorts married women to stick it out even when the going gets tough.
The beautiful track starts on a low tempo beat, which rises midway and slows down towards the end.Ndebele, a family man, gives his piece of advice to the youths on how to contain themselves when they fall prey to some temptation especially in form of men in the song Yolanda. In Ndine Hurombo Ndebele consoles Dzivarasekwa families that lost their loved ones in the bus/train disaster in March 2007.
Typically of such songs, Ndine Hurombo has a slow tempo beat from start to finish unlike in Imba Yangu that talks about gossiping which in Ndebele's view has contributed to problems in several families. The intricate guitar works shown on this track makes the album a must purchase for Ndebele's followers.Ndebele sees transparency among family members as the only solution that can make the family grow in the song Zvipfukuto. The DVD album is of exceptional quality and the choice of sites used were exquisite, a sign that the person who did the scripting and editing, knows his job very well.
Ndebele, who of late has been keeping a low profile, said he needed enough time to regroup and make good areas he felt needed improvement."As musicians, I feel it's proper that we listen to what people say especially the fans. We get to know through that feedback where we need to improve," he said.
He called upon various stakeholders in the music industry to join hands in fighting piracy that has seen some artists losing millions of dollars in revenue.
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