Maskandi group on a mission
Prestige Muntanga
LUPANE-based Maskandi Emuntwini Movement is determined to promote and nature talented young people who are interested in the Maskandi music genre.
Founder and director of the movement, Mazilankatha Prince Ncube said he is currently working with a gospel group called Abantwana Bensindiso Yama Nazaretha. Ncube is the group manager.
“On the 28th of July 2022, we had a very successful charity event at Tshongokwe Primary School in Lupane. This charity event was merged with the school’s fundraising efforts aimed at developing the school,” he said.
Ncube revealed that his group took the opportunity to donate stationary to underprivileged students of Tshongokwe Primary School.
“We donated exercise books and pens to the learners as well as clothes to some members of the community.
We also belted out a classical music performance by Abantwana BeNsindiso Yama Nazaretha Gospel Group led by (Thabiso Moyo) also known as MaDewa who happens to be founding leader and vocalist Rev. J Maphosa’s widow,” he said.
Ncube said artists have a social responsibility to give back to the communities, not only material things but inspiration as well.
“We saw it fit for us to go back to the community that raised our leader MaDewa and do something for them…not that we have a lot of money but because we have a heart of sharing where we share that little that we have. As a gospel group, we are students of the word of God that encourages us to share what we have with each other so that there would be no one lacking among us like what was happening in the book of Acts chapter 2 from verse 44 to 47 where we see believers spending time together selling their possessions, sharing and spending time in fellowship and eating together. By so doing God continually blessed them,” he said.
Ncube added; “Our wish is to do more of these events in future.We also identified a lot of talent among the children. In the near future we will be going back to the school to help them nature their talents especially in music, dance and poetry.”
The Maskandi Emuntwini Movement was formed in 2016 with the aim to preserve, promote and protect Maskandi music which it calls a “cultural heritage.” The word “maskandi” is derived from the Afrikaans word “musikant”, meaning musician.
