Zim: Ndolwane Super Sounds veteran drummer Gaile is dead

Speaking to local media, band member Martin ‘The Big Boss’ Sibanda said: “The music industry has lost a gallant and well-disciplined artist, who never provoked anyone but consistently discharged his skills passionately. His passing tore me apart because he was no longer just a member of my group but had become like a brother to me.”

The group’s bassist, Obert Vundla, said: “It’s incredibly challenging for me to speak about him because I’ve shared my life with him since 1998 when he was already a part of Ndolwane Super Sounds when I joined. Galie played the drums for the Nimcitsheleni album and contributed to the recording of all subsequent albums. His entire life was dedicated to music, and he never engaged in any other profession.”

A native of Mpopoma suburb in Bulawayo, Gile was born in 1971. Even though his name may not ring a bell for many people, they are left with no doubt that he is a legend when they look at the list of bands he has drummed for such as Solomon Skuza, Andy Brown, Soul Brothers, Dan Tshanda’s Splash and Ndolwane Super Sounds. As his career largely played out in the background, he remained the proverbial “man behind the scenes” despite playing for such high-profile names.

For years, his tools of the trade have been the two sticks used by drummers. As a result of losing his father at a young age, Galie dropped out of primary school in 1980. For his family's sake, he then turned to music as a means of earning a living. The late Solomon Skuza saw in Galie a gem he could refine in his Fallen Heroes band during his stint with Skara Band. At the age of 19, Galie recorded only one album with Solomon Skuza, Love and Scandals, which was a commercial success.

As a result of Skara Band’s failure to bring stage success to recording studios, Galie became a nomadic drummer who travelled inside and outside of the country, working with the late Tobias Areketa, the Shazi Band, Soul Brothers, and Dan Tshanda’s Splash. Galie became popular after playing for the united Ndolwane Super Sounds where he earned his nicknames Galiman, The Senior Man and Mr Ceremony. As a professional drummer, he has assisted musicians like Sandra Ndebele, Jeys Marabini, Allen Ndoda, Precious Manyonyoba, Dubia Masters and Chase Skuza, among many others.