Voice2Rep is a groundbreaking platform that aims to discover, develop and showcase the vocal talents of Zimbabwean youth. Now in its third year, this year’s cohort features 13 young men and women who have written and recorded songs about social ills that are affecting all of us in our communities. The project was born of a collaboration between Accountability Lab and the Magamba Network.
Beginning with an Interlude, Comfort Ndlovu leaves us with no doubt that his track “Qiniso” is going to pull no punches. Starting with the words, “1983 to 1987, new Zimbabwe” and “a moment of madness” this gentle acapella which smoothly transitions into a more upbeat ‘Marabi’ type township jazz beat. It is exciting to hear the younger generation embrace this musical style so popular in yesteryear, and not only do it justice, but to give it a modern spin.
Perhaps more controversially, the song tackles the harrowing events that took place in Matebeleland between 1983 and 1987 where it is estimated that 20,000 ndebele people lost their lives under Robert Mugabe. Perhaps in honour of that, the song is entirely in Ndebele.
Ndlovu says the song is about healing and reconciliation after Robert Mugabe’s self-confessed ‘moment of madness’, an important and recently much talked about honoring of tragic events that began 37 years ago. The song begins with an Interlude, which sounds like a funeral dirge, with Ndlovu singing softly, and soulfully about the lives which were lost, with a softly hummed background providing a gentle, lilting musicality.
The second half of the track is far more upbeat and speaks to a spirit of acknowledgement and reconciliation in order to move forward. Led by an electric guitar, and supported by a bass guitar and synth, Ndlovu switches his tone. I am not an Ndebele speaker, but I am struck by how much Ndlovu conveys here in his tone and pitch. I found the track to be deeply affecting, and one of my favourite tracks on this compilation.
Towards the end of the track, Ndlovu switches to spoken word and prescribes a solution to the ethnic conflict which has haunted this nation for 37 years, intoning:
“Prisoners of the past, liberators of the future, proud and beautiful Zimbabweans, moving to a brighter future. Healing and truth is the answer. But truth must precede healing. But truth must precede reconciliation. And the truth, and only the truth shall set the prisoners of the past free.”
This wraps up my review of the Vakuru album compilation. An extraordinary debut for most of these talented artists, and heralding a bright future for local music. At the same time, it is an incredible and searing look at our current social ills and a call to action for us to make it better.
You can listen to this track and more on the “Vakuru” compilation album on streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube) or by sending a message to +27600806146 on Whatsapp.
