Since their formation in Bulawayo (Zimbabwe’s second largest city) in 1982, the ten-man choir known as Black Umfolosi has combined performances with educational work all over the world. They use music and dance from Southern Africa to attract people to other cultures and to challenge negative stereotypes about the developing world.
What began as a way of entertaining themselves at school, turned into self-training and then a wider group of eighteen people and a worldwide phenomenon.
Their name is derived from the Umfolosi river in South Africa and they added Black to emphasize their identity. They see their music as a way of renewing their own culture as well as introducing it abroad and add to this process with traditional dances, including the modern miner’s Gumboot dance. They address general human concerns – love, family, spirit, – as well as contemporary problems – wars, apartheid, the environment and AIDS.”
The group have won admires worldwide for their stunning shows, both dance and a cappella, plus their general energy, enthusiasm and humor. Black Umfolosi is much more than a performing group, they are active in training others, particularly the youth, in dance and voice. Black Umfolosi is a community driven organization aiming to give back to the people what they have themselves received.
Discography:
Unity (World Circuit, 1990)
Festival Umdlalo (World Circuit, 1993)
Shosholoza (1999)
Best of Black Umfolosi: Summertime (ARC Music, 2012)
Yes Lord (2013)
Umhlaba (2015)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
