AFRO-FUSION guitarist and singer Aggabu Nyabinde says he learnt a lot from his late father and intends to be a dedicated full-time music performer ahead of anything else.
Aggabu is a Zimbabwe Music Awards winner and nominee for Best Afro Jazz (2021) and Best Traditional (2020), respectively.
Speaking to NewsDay Life & Style on the sidelines of his performance, Agga, as he is affectionately called by fans, said his choice for fused African sounds was driven by his music studies at Midlands State University including influence from his father and music mentor, the late award-winning afro-jazz artiste Bob Nyabinde.
“My creativity revolves around old-style sounds and melodies found in folk and traditional music of Zimbabwe and Africa at large. I have three albums to date Kushanda (2018), Basa iBasa (2020) and Kufara Kweumwe. My fans should brace for my new album which is still in processing [stage] at a local studio. If adequate sponsorship is available, we intend to launch it on a strategically placed date, April 30, when the world celebrates the International Jazz Day,” he said.
According to the United Nations, International Jazz Day celebrates the historical, cultural and educational contribution of this popular genre of music. The day aims to spread international awareness about this unique musical style; and to promote the cultural and social values that jazz stands for.
Prominent jazz promoter Josh Hozheri on January 31, 2022 donated a public address system to Agga which gave a boost to his musical performances. To date the gifted guitarist and singer depended on hired equipment, which is highly questionable considering the good management and integrity associated with an artiste of his calibre.
Agga says he is inspired by old yesteryear hits and in like manner has worked on his musical abilities and eventually came up renditions of several songs he used to listen to when he was a child. At the Gava Restaurant in Harare, he added food for the ear on the menu through songs like Ndivhenekerei Chiedza (Agga), Mhopo and Street Kid (Oliver Mtukudzi), Samatenga (Simon Chimbetu), Chabuda Hapana (Bob Nyabinde) in addition to his hit songs like Anechipo, Aneshungu, Zvakanaka Basa iBasa, Kufara Kweumwe, Mhanya, Achafara, Tsotsi, Vasikana Vanonakidza and Sahwira including plenty others in a space of about five hours.
“I learnt several things from my father including nurturing a jazzy kind of thinking and repairing guitars. Children are now learning arts in school at a very tender age which is a plus to the growth and development of the arts and culture industry.
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“My performances and creativity highly reflect my background. As you can judge for yourself here today, I mix up my original songs, my late father’s hit catalogue, the late great Oliver Mtukudzi and Simon Chimbetu’s renditions who were my heroes,” he shared.
Agga’s drive and persistence in making interesting Afro-Jazz Zimbabwean traditional fused sounds puts him in the same boat with the likes of Ruvimbo Mapanda affectionately known as Raven Duchess a jazz and folklore singer or songwriter and mental health advocate. Raven Duchess’s jazzy voice and fusion of Afro folklore or mbira music captures the audience’s attention as she is good at interpreting African stories with a jazz and contemporary fusion of musical sounds of Zimbabwe and Africa at large.
Agga’s performances validate great skill for musical arrangement and well nurtured performance techniques which reflect a long journey of perfect practice and good nurturing.
Agga is the lead guitarist of his 2 Nice Band which includes Ropa Mutandaguruva (drummer), Albert Nyabinde (saxophone), Malvin Mutopodzi (bass) Precious Mapurisa (vocals) and Dorcas Kambarami (vocals). The talented ensemble was good enough to churn out catchy solos that took the show to a fading end as the lunch eaters went back to their workplaces while they sang along.
