Lufuno Munzhelele records live performance

Reggae artist Lufuno Munzhelele and his team of professional instrumentalists successfully recorded some of his best music during a live performance recently, called Lufuno Munzhelele Live 2021.

The recording was done at the serene Idani Park in Tshivulu village in Mutale on Saturday, where Munzhelele and his band delivered a sterling performance with songs such as Ngani Nne, Ri do rabela, Kondelelani, Fulufhelo, Dibviseni, The Town, Zwivhuya and Li do da duvha.

The stage was shared by Ndivhuwo Musetha on drums, Steve Netshishivhe on bass guitar, Wanga Mukwevho on keyboard, Osborn Ntimbani on lead guitar, and Mbengeni Munzhelele as back-up singer, with Lufuno on lead vocals and rhythm guitar.

Lufuno was born into a church-going family at Makwilidza village, where music was played all the time. “My father was a preacher, and every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday were church days,” he said. “My mom is a great singer who takes pride in perfection.”    

He was introduced to reggae and started listening to the music of all-time legends such as Colbert Mukwevho and Lucky Dube. “I listened to their music on the radio, and I enjoyed it,” he said. “At one stage, I saw a disco group performing on the back of a truck; I knew then that I wanted to be an entertainer.”

Since then, music has become an intrinsic part of Lufuno’s life. “This is the trade that I am blessed with by the Most High, so I feel blessed to be able to do it in front of people who appreciate the craft,” he said.  

He always strives for versatility when he creates his music. “I have many ideas on how I want to present my music, so I am constantly striving to be different and unique in the way I deliver my songs,” he said. “It’s a long road, but I'm willing to learn. It’s a great feeling to see people singing along to my songs before they are even released. Songs like Li do da duvha, Ngani Nne and Ri do rabela are songs to look up to, both in terms of style and message.”

His music is inspired by the way people live their lives, the daily struggles and the joys life presents.

“It’s just the way I see things, and sometimes I feel like I’m preaching the same things that my father used to preach at church,” he said. “I’m now listening to a lot of the church and traditional music that we used to sing as kids, and I’m gaining a lot of knowledge from that. My plan is to present my art in my own language, on my own terms, and to me that’s life.”

The Lufuno Munzhelele Live 2021 recording will be available freely online via YouTube and other social media platforms from 29 May this year.

“The show’s main aim is to take live music to the people,” he said, referring to live streaming. “However, with the advent of Covid-19, we’re taking the live music experience online, so it can be enjoyed by people all over the world. Through technology, we’re now able to share our art on a global stage.”

Entertainment - Date: 09 May 2021

Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

Email: [email protected]