Noma ngabe ubani okhuluma ngeqhaza nendima edlalwe abesimame emculweni wesintu ikakhulukazi kaMaskandi ngeke angalibaluli igama leqembu iMithente ehlaba isamila. Phela ngelinye lamaqembu amadala kulendima yomculo kanti futhi ngamanye amaqembu angamavulandlela kubantu besimame abafisa ukuba yingxenye yalomculo. Igama elithi uMthente lisho utshani obumila ehlane obuhlaba busebuncane obungakwazi ukudliwa amazinyane nezimbuzi ngenxa yokuhlaba kwayo. Kanti ke lokhu ngokweqembu kusho amaqalelo eqembu ngoba phela buningi ubumbongi obusetshenziswa emculweni wesintu.
Imithente iqembu eliqalwe eGoli kwandonga ziyaduma ngonyaka ka-1993 lisungulwa ubaba uSimosakhe Mthalane kanye nomama uDumisile Manana, Buselaphi Gxowa kanye noNokwazi Ntuli bengabokudabuka basesifundeni saKwaZulu Natali. Kanti ke maningi namacwecwe asekhishwe ileliqembu, ladlala emazweni angaphandle laphinde lanqoba nezindondo ezahlukahlukene emqhudelwaneni wama South African Musical Awards kanye nama South African Traditional Musical Awards. Emva kokuhamba emhlabeni kukaMthalani owayengumholi weqembu labe seliholwa uDumisile Manana ngoba phela naye uBuselaphi wayesecele inxiwa lakhe esesebenza ngokuzimela eqenjini likaBuselaphi.
Kuhle ukubona abesimame behola amaqembu futhi ephumelele emculweni wesintu ngoba phela lomculo ugcwele kakhulu izinsizwa ngokuhola amaqembu. Lokhu kusho khona ukuthi ivuliwe inkundla yokuthi nayo imbokodo ibe neqhaza elidlala ekukhuliseni izinto ezithinta isintu namasiko. Nanka ke amacwecwe akhishwe iqembu Imithente singabala Isidikiselo, Awusay’ Ebhodweni, Ngiyakushiya Mawulele, Umnyango Ongenasikhiye, Igaz’ Elibabayo, Ake Niyek’ Ukukhuluma, Bamb’ Ezakho, Simqonda Ngqo, Vimb’ Ezansi, Mbibi, Vuka Mathambo, Ichakijani, Mhlobo Wami, Washonaphi, S’yawuvala Umlomo, Asekhon’ Amalahle, kanye nethi Uzoyikhona Kanjani. Kanti ke phesheya kwezilwandle badlale eLa Rochelle, France, India, Vienna, kanye nase-Algiers for the Pan African Cultural Festival.
Brief overview
Imithente is a multi award-winning Maskandi group that was formed by Mr. Mthalane in the early ’90s but has had female leaders since its inception. This article pays tribute to the role the group has made in the male-dominated genre, and signifies the importance of women leaders in the traditional music genre.
Siboniso Langa is a content generator, researcher and practising poet. His work focuses on Zulu oral and material culture, its promotion and preservation. He holds an Honours degree in Community and Development studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).