Godwin Muzari
28 November 2009
DESPITE the twist and turns that rhumba music has gone through locally for the past two decades, one group should be credited for standing firm.
BV Labien Musica has stood the shocks and waves of the rhumba music scene and managed to keep the genre afloat.
When rhumba gained popularity in the country in the 1990s, a number of foreign groups relocated here while new groups were also formed countrywide.
Those were the days when Congolese musicians like Pepe Kale, Allan Kounkou, Kanda Bongoman and Yondo Sister would fill show venues to capacity whenever they came to perform.
The rhumba craze saw local musicians such as the late Papa Jose, Peter Tangwena and Franco Hodobo localizing the genre. Congolese groups Lubumbashi Stars, New Stars Musica, Diamond Musica, Bana Des As and Real Sounds of Africa also found new bases in Harare.
That was the time Alick Macheso's dancer and backing vocalist Jonasi Kasamba and Tongai Moyo's 'animator' Shiga Shiga came to Zimbabwe.
It is a period that undoubtedly carries colourful memories for many local music lovers and show goers.
BV Labien Musica was formed at that rhumba peak era to join the long list of new local rhumba outfits.
But that craze faded with time and for some years, the genre's popularity depreciated leading to the collapse of most of the groups.
BV Labien Musica defied the odds and remained active through thick and thin. A brainchild of rhumba fanatic Sam "Chamangwana" Ndingindi, the group at some point became the only active rhumba group in the country.
When other groups were dismantling or quitting the genre, BV Labien Musica was taking its music to Karoi, Kariba, Gweru, Bulawayo, Mutare and Masvingo among other places.
Although Chamangwana admits that the trips were not rosy, he says the travelling breathed a family spirit into the band and kept the members focused.
At one point the greater chunk of the group left to form the now defunct Super Labien Musica but the man managed to recruit other members and keep the band going.
Most of the guys who had deserted are now back at the group while others are still negotiating to return.
Chamangwana said the group had managed to build a good fan base while their shows had greatly improved this year.
"The previous years were hard because rhumba had lost popularity while the economic conditions were challenging," he said.
"Things have improved now.
"We now have full-houses at some shows while the popularity of rhumba is generally improving.
"The visits by international rhumba musicians like Werrason revived some interest in the genre among local music lovers."
BV Labien Musica was initially Labien Musica before it merged with Olympia Musica to form Inter Musica.
The two groups split in less than a year and Chamangwana sponsored former members of Labien Musica to build the current group.
BV Labien musica has released three albums while they will be back in the studio early next year for their fourth release titled Mashoko - Three Rounds.
Some popular songs from the previous albums include Madzaumbe, Sabhuku, Officer and Label Chete.
A video to Officer was on the eighth position in ZTV's video of the year programme last year.
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