Black Umfolosi

Based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city, Black Umfolosi take their name from the Umfolosi River that flows through the Natal province of South Africa. Their name was chosen to remember the groups’ forefathers who lived along the banks of the river before migrating north to Matabeleland in Zimbabwe.

Formed in 1982, previous members have gone on to form the backbone of the performing arts in Zimbabwe, but the group itself continues to evolve. They tour the world taking with them their unique sound and ‘gumboot’ dancing, a style of dance that originated as a means of communication amongst black African miners who were forbidden from talking to one another.

Their style of Imbube music - or ‘township acapella’ – is both uplifting and meditative, the songs often being described as ‘vocal newspaper’. The group take their music to parts of Africa where there are no radios or televisions, their repertoire reflecting on issues such as global warming, respect for oneself and human rights, as well as promoting healthy living and education.