Legendary South African kwaito and Afro-pop group, Bongo Maffin is in the country and is scheduled to perform at the second edition of the Oliver Mtukudzi International Festival of the Arts (OMiFa) set to be hosted at Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton from Friday September 19 until Saturday September 20.
For the group’s Zimbabwe-born member, Jah Seed, headlining this festival to honour a legend like Oliver Mtukudzi is a profound homecoming and an honour he describes as “beyond my imagination”.
NewsDay Life & Style reporter Khumbulani Muleya (KM) caught up with Jah Seed (JS) --- born Adrian Anesu Mupemhi --- to discuss this special moment, the group's legacy, and their future.
The following are extracts from the interview.
KM: Bongo Maffin headlining this festival is a significant moment. What does it mean for you, as a Zimbabwean-born artiste, to be part of such a prestigious homecoming stage and celebrating a legend in Oliver Mtukudzi?
JS: It is personally beyond my imagination.
There are certain things in music or in your musical journey that you can never say you’ll see happen in your career.
It’s a special honour to participate in this festival.
- Bongo Maffin in Zim for Tuku Fest
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As an artiste born in Zimbabwe, Oliver Mtukudzi and Thomas Mapfumo are the main artistes we grew up listening to.
They’re the artistes who carried the flag of Zimbabwean music from the 1970s to the new millennium.
So, it’s an honour to be invited to such an event to honour a legendary figure.
What a humbling feeling!
Thanks to the organisers for thinking we could be part of such an event.
KM: The group has stood the test of time. How do you feel your sound and message have evolved to stay relevant for over two decades?
JS: Yes, the group has stood the test of time, mainly due to some timeless records we have made in our career and, more importantly, the fans who connect with our music.
Change is the only constant in life, and we are in this position because of our ability to adapt, lead and be led.
The forever-burning feeling of wanting to entertain people with music drives us.
Music keeps changing, but the message remains the same --- a message of love, resistance, self-awareness, and where we are coming from.
To pass the test of time, we’ve been bordering our message around these themes: where we’re coming from, where we are, and where we might go.
KM: Looking ahead, Bongo Maffin is also part of the Thebe Legend Tour later this month, celebrating another kwaito pioneer. With the music industry constantly changing, what is the ‘New Construction’ --- to borrow your album title --- for Bongo Maffin? Can fans expect new music soon?
JS: Definitely, you can never say never, because sometimes we go to the music, and sometimes the music comes to us.
There’s a time in your life as a musician when you’re the tool of music, and then there’s a time when you become the vessel of music.
It’s an interchanging situation when it comes to making music.
We are not young anymore, but music keeps pulling us to create something new.
I’m sure in the near future, fans can expect Bongo Maffin to come up with one or two tracks, if not an album, because we can.
KM: What message do you have for the fans who have been with you since the Leaders of D’Gong days?
JS: To the Bongo Maffin fans, thank you, thank you, thank you!
When we started our musical journey, we challenged ourselves by believing that we could do this.
We were also inspired by those who came before us --- they’re the ones who gave us the fuel to say we could also do this.
To see ourselves in a position where we are recognised and get invitation on festival to honour one of the great artiste who inspired me is out of this world.
