Zim: Busi Ncube heads home for charity gig

Ncube, who announced her humanitarian initiative in April, will be joined by her twin sister Pathi and other local artists such as Carmen Hwarari, Sihle Hlaseka, Sibusiso Mhlanga, Sandra Ndebele and outfit Nobuntu.

Ncube told Music In Africa that she had chosen the area and individuals the charity drive would aim to assist.

“We have already identified the area and had someone who's been there on the ground,” she said. “My criteria will be to mostly target school-going kids with learning material. This one is not activism I am engaged in, it’s humanitarian for the needy in our society and it's an individual effort.”

Ncube will perform only one show in Zimbabwe and is expected to be in the country for the next three weeks. “I would have loved to organise more gigs but logistics and planning cost money. Next time I will engage corporates to partner with us for such a cause. I am hoping this to be a success.

“It's not the first time I have done this and I have done a lot. I established a children's stopover house in Harare and I am sponsoring a girl child at SOS Children's Village for her education and upkeep. I am also paying for most of the members in my family.”

Responding to where she draws her motivation to assist the needy, the ‘Thula Africa’ hitmaker said: “I got the motivation from giving back to society and from the children of Zimbabwe who are disadvantaged." Asked how much she is expecting to raise, Ncube said: “I have no targeted figure, it depends on people's attendance and their compassion towards their own.”

Ncube, who will also be launching a 10-track album titled Usiko at the Bluez Café next Friday, urged local musicians to get involved in humanitarian work. “Artists should give back to society because it makes us who we are,” she said.

Usiko is about the suffering of Zimbabweans who fell victim to last year’s devastating floods that left 251 people dead and 128 injured. About 100 000 people still lack access to safe drinking water.

“All proceeds from the album go towards supporting the victims of the flood who Busi is already helping,” a press statement reads. “The launch will be a starburst of woman power, an exciting event with vivid and colourful deliveries by some of Bulawayo’s most popular artists.”

A music teacher in Oslo, Norway, Ncube has worked with distinguished artists such as the late Chiwoniso Maraire, Roger Mbambo and Adam Chisvo, among others.

For more information about Ncube's Bluez Café performance, click here.