By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Mbira fusion player — Ronald Nyandoro — has delivered an unadulterated 10-track album simply titled — Sabhuku which already has the seal of approval of Chimurenga music pundits.
The one good thing about the album is that Nyandoro does not try too much to sound like music maestro Dr Thomas Mapfumo but instead he sings in his natural and undiluted voice bringing home a melody that compares to none.
The 46-year-old based in Canada also showcases his great artistry and range throughout the album showcasing the uniqueness of mbira music where in some songs he slows the tempo before he raises the tempo for those that love to sing and dance.
Music-wise, the album has something for everyone, if you love the sound of mbira you will enjoy and if you enjoy the twing-twang of the guitars you will love it.
Most of his subject relate to everyday life of Zimbabweans.
This is because, Nyandoro is not a newcomer on the music, he has been there as part of the group — Renaissance — which recorded two albums.
“I’ve been in music since I was a kid but has been just for self-entertainment until I came to Canada where I met Chaka Zinyemba and we decided to come together and just jam mbira music.
“We, together with some local musicians formed the band Mbira Renaissance and recorded two CDs (Tisvikewo- 5 songs and Famba- 4 songs). I left the band in November 2018 to focus on solo recordings that culminated in the album Sabhuku and another upcoming album that will probably be called Mubvunzo,” he explained.
Frankly speaking, Nyandoro does not sing about politics but his messages are subtle and he makes it easy for people to read between the lines.
He is singing about the bad state-of-affairs in Pindirai, poor governance and injustices in his motherland Zimbabwe.
On Mavatora, Nyandoro says you have taken them away, God you have taken our loved ones away from us to be with you in heaven. They are your children and we have no power to stop you from taking them but you have left us in unending pain.
The title track — Sabhuku — is a plea. He pleads to a leader that we have suffered enough in the hands of this cruel leader who rules with an iron fist. Please run away from this leader and find a safe place to stay before he/she finishes us.
Another song worth noting is Zvawakada which translates to your choice, your fault, you chose to be kicked out instead of voluntarily stepping down, Stop looking for sympathy you are in it alone. Those you used to dine with, loot with, kill together with and oppress with have turned against you.
Again this is something as Zimbabweans we all relate and recall as not so long ago an event similar to this happened on November 17, 2017.
However, the album is not all about gloom and doom as heard on the song Shinga, which encourages people never to give up. He says keep on pressing and keep moving you will succeed one day.
He sums the album with Zvakuwana where Nyandoro forewarns evil doers of trouble ahead.
He says you invited trouble to yourself so stop crying as I you don’t know how you got yourself in the mess.
According to Nyandoro, the reception of the music had been wonderful from people of diverse cultural backgrounds.
“My music is inspired by my desire for social justice and the preservation of mbira music.
“Difference in my sound: my sound is unique because I write my mbira sound from scratch and not as a variation of existing traditions songs. I believe the mbira speaks, hence the name MbiraSpeaks for my music project/company,” he said.
He said Sabhuku was due for release in the country but could not be possible as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic which restricts on public gathering and liver live performances.
“I would have loved to launch Sabhuku in Zimbabwe but ended up doing it on Facebook,” he said.
For those not in the know, Nyandoro was born and raised in Mhondoro (a true country boy) where there was lots of mbira music in the home both for entertainment and spiritual.
“This is where the love and appreciation for mbira started. Did well in school and post Secondary I ended up in agriculture where I acquired a Diploma in Agriculture from Chibero College, BSc Hons in Agriculture from University of Zimbabwe and MSc Agricultural in Canada,” he said.
He can be contacted on WhatsApp +17807292809, on Facebook as Ronald Nyandoro and also on my Facebook page, MbiraSpeaks
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