The Park City Institute
Presents
Duduzile Sibanda
Zanele Manhenga
Heather Dube
Brenda Rera
Joyline Sibanda
Tonight’s Program is Selected From the Following
EARTH SONG - Native American Chant
UYANGIPHOXA - Duduzile Sibanda
INGOMA YAMI - Joyline Sibanda
WOZA NGANE - Zanele Manhenga
CULA - Zanele Manhenga
NGONYAMA - Traditional
QINA - Zanele Manhenga & Duduzile Sibanda
OBABES BE MBUBE - Dumisani Moyo
BLACK PRESIDENT - Brenda Fassie
UMKHWENYANA - Heather Dube
NOBUNTU CLICK SONG - Zanele Manhenga
RWIZI - Gospel Traditional
ILANGA - Duduzile Sibanda
BLACK TAX - Zanele Manhenga
LEAN ON ME - Bill Withers Rearranged: Nobuntu
NARINI - Zanele Manhenga
ABEMUVA - Heather Dube
AMEN - Trad. Rearranged by Reality 7
Encore: MASIDONSE - Trad. Rearranged by Nobuntu
Program length approximately 90 minutes, no intermission
Theater
The Eccles Center is the largest theater in Park City, Utah with 1,269 seats. It is home to Park City Institute's Main Stage Season from October through April each year, presenting a broad range of world-class performing arts from international dance companies to Broadway icons to beloved authors/humorists to virtuosos in a host of musical styles from Chamber Music to rock'n'roll.
Health and Safety
The Park City Institute and the Park City School District have taken measures to assure the health and safety of our patrons, staff, and performers. We are constantly adjusting our COVID protocols based on the recommendations of the CDC, and directives of local and state health departments. Permanent changes include, updated HVAC, touch-less restroom faucets, electronic ticketing, electronic programs, enhanced cleaning, and all volunteers and staff to be fully vaccinated.
We recognize that being fully vaccinated and wearing a mask are the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus. If you don’t feel well or have a cough or a fever we ask that you remain home.
PROGRAM NOTES
EARTH SONG - Native American Chant. We hope when you listen to the song you are uplifted
UYANGIPHOXA – In this song we blame all woes and troubles on satan. We ask for courage and strength from the almighty.
INGOMA YAMI – In this song, we ask for guidance in our music journey. We ask for dreams filled with music and song.
WOZA NGANE – Coming from a land where domestic violence is rampant, we encourage people to stop all forms of abuse that cause so many deaths in our country.
CULA – A song fixes any emotions. We encourage anyone who is down and out to sing ad they will be happy again. If you are happy sing some more.
NGONYAMA – Ngonyama is a traditional gospel song that gives praises to the Creator. Ngonyama is a name for the Creator in the Ndebele language.
QINA -This song encourages women to be strong to fight and fend for themselves because no one will fight for you.
OBABES BE MBUBE – This is a homage to the type of music that we do. We’ve been affectionately called ‘Obabes Bembube’ by our fans, this song celebrates us and what Mbube has done to us giving us the opportunity to travel all over the world.
BLACK PRESIDENT – A song originally done by the late Brenda Fassie celebrating the 1st black South African president, the late Nelson Mandela.
UMKHWENYANA - ln this song we celebrate the son-in-law and how he loves his beautiful bride ever surprising her with love gifts. Even the family also looks forward to his visits because he will not come empty-handed.
NOBUNTU CLICK SONG – A song in the language of Ndebele that features unusual clicking sounds. Ndebele is one of the main languages of Zimbabwe.
RWIZI - A prayer done by a person approaching death praying for safe passage to the other side.
ILANGA -This is a song that encourages one to work in their youth so as to prepare themselves for a bright future.
BLACK TAX - Traditionally in our culture parents and grandparents are taken care of by their children. It’s a duty and an honor to be able to take care of your parents regardless of your circumstances. However, in the past years because of cultural integration some people feel burdened and taken care of by their loved ones - it is called tax. We as Nobuntu say there is no such thing as a “black tax”. Be glad that you are able to take care of your parents.
LEAN ON ME - As Nobuntu we feel this song is even more powerful now than it was when it was first released. A Song that encourages people to depend on each other no man is an island.
NARINI – Narini is a Shona word that means forever and ever. In this song, we celebrate everlasting love- the eternal bond between two lovers.
ABEMUVA -The Ndebele people say “Ehamba muva ibanjwa yizinja”meaning don’t lag behind when others are pushing forward you might just leg behind forever. Backward never forward ever.
AMEN – In this song, we are sharing our feelings of devotion. Through calmness and serenity.
Encore: MASIDONSE - In this song, we encourage people to pull together. A big fire warms the whole village then a small fire for individuals.
About Nobuntu
Nobuntu is a Five Part Acappella Vocal ensemble made up of young women from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The name Nobuntu is an African concept that values humbleness, love, purpose, unity, and family from a woman’s perspective. Their repertoire is a fusion of traditional Zimbabwean-rooted music, Afro Jazz, Gospel, and Crossover in pure voices with minimalistic percussion, traditional instruments such as the Mbira, and some dance movements.
The ensemble won Outstanding Imbube Group in the inaugural 2017 Bulawayo Arts Awards and was nominated for Best Musician of the Year at the Zimbabwe International Women Awards 2015, which were held in London.
The video of NARINI, their lead single from the second album, EKHAYA, went on to be Number 1 of the Top 10 Zimbabwean Music Videos on DSTV’s Zambezi Magic TV. NARINI stayed in the Top 10 for over 4 weeks.
Nobuntu is a production identified by its concept and philosophy, a new generation of young women singers who celebrate and preserve their culture, beauty, and heritage through art. Nobuntu was founded in 2011 as there was an absence of an all-female professional a cappella group in Bulawayo and Zimbabwe as a whole. The ensemble’s mission is the belief that music is the most important and original wheel of change. It’s an expression of a new generation of young women singers- transcending racial, tribal, religious, gender, and economic boundaries.
Nobuntu celebrates through their voices and movement, the identities of being an African woman. Their voices, energy, and breath-taking performances are an experience that communicates humanity. The release of their debut album in 2013 titled THINA, immediately took them beyond their African borders to countries such as Austria, Germany, Belgium, and the Czech Republic, playing in concert halls, theatres, and festivals such as “Voice Mania” in Vienna and “Trans-Vocal” in Frankfurt-Oder.
In 2016 Nobuntu released their 2nd album called EKHAYA.
The second album, EKHAYA, is an homage to all things African; its beauty, the values, and our norms as a people. The album is an attempt to leave behind a world and legacy our children will be happy to inherit and preserve. The album highlights the importance of a place called home (EKHAYA).
Zanele Manhenga
Zanele Manhenga is a talented singer, songwriter, and poet who began her journey as a child singing at family gatherings together with her older sister, afro-jazz artist Dudu Manhenga.
She has also appeared numerous times as a performer and an MC at the Sistaz Open Mic, a Pamberi Trust initiative to give young and upcoming female artists a platform to enter the mainstream of the arts in Harare. In addition to the open Mic sessions, she has attended several grooming workshops under the gender project F.L.A.M.E. This has contributed to her growth and confidence along her musical journey.
Zanele has performed, recorded, toured, and been mentored by Dudu Manhenga and Color Blu in South Africa and Mozambique. She has also performed as a background vocalist for many artists including Pastor Gee, Ignatious Mabasa, Ronny Roots, Bob Nyabinde, Jeys Marabini, Lwazi Shabangu, Cool Crooners to mention but a few. With these and other artists she has performed at Harare International Festival of the Arts HIFA (2007), Beira Jazz festival (Mozambique 2009), Harare Jazz Festival 2010-2012, Grahamstown Arts Festival (South Africa 2009-2010), October Jazz (2011-2014) and Bob Marley Commemoration (2012)
In 2011 Zanele Manhenga studied for a National Certificate in Musicology at the Zimbabwe College of Music where she trained with various instruments including the Mbira and traditional Zimbabwe dance among other subjects.
Zanele has released a single online called Nginje in 2013.
In 2014 Zanele Manhenga was signed by 10th District Music and joined Nobuntu. She has since contributed songs on the latest Nobuntu album EKHAYA. She is the Mbira player of the group, a singer and songwriter.
Heather Dube
Heather Dube is an energetic dancer, percussionist, and vocalist who started at a very young age performing in school choirs and traditional groups. In 2007 she worked with Indlovukazi ZikaNyongola, a Friends of Joshua Trust Initiative. In 2008 she was part of the Amawumbo Dance Company which toured France and Belgium and performed in festivals such as the Martiuges Festival, Chambery Festival, and Tohout Festival. In 2009 she was part of Kwabatsha Dance Company which toured around the country. In 2010, Heather was selected to represent Zimbabwe at the Shangai Expo in China as a dancer. She is also a session vocalist and has done backing vocals for Khuxxman, Hudson Simbarashe, and Vusa Mkhaya as well as a percussionist for the Austria based group called Mozulu Art.
Her journey with Nobuntu started in 2011 and is a dancer, vocalist and percussionist on stage and in the studio.
Brenda Rera
Brenda P. S. Rera is an Administrator by profession and a Talented Musician who sings Soprano,1st Tenor and Baritone. She joined the music industry in 2003 and is one of the founders of two Zimbabwe Accappela Musical Groups namely Divine Portals and Fortified Music Ministry. She performed with both groups at Church during Music Festivals and Concerts.
In 2007 she and her group Divine Portals recorded an album titled Going Home at MFDT studio in Harare, Zimbabwe and launched the Album same year featuring a Harare based Accappela group called Firm Faith at the Zimbabwe Music Academy. In 2015 she also recorded with Fortified Music Ministry an Album titled Long Suffering in one of South Africa Studio called BHK. She is passionate about her work, self-driven and goal oriented person.
Brenda P.S. Rera currently joined Nobuntu on a part-time music contract. She will be taking the Soprano part. Her first live performance with Nobuntu was at the Festival of Lights which took place this year 2022 at Gordon Park, Matopo National park, Zimbabwe.
Joyline Sibanda
Joyline Sibanda is a talented dancer and singer who started performing in 2004 at Vuka Africa and with Cont Mhlanga in a show called Mzilikazi. She then worked with Friends of Joshua as a dancer and singer of INDLOVUKAZI Zikanyongola. In 2011 she toured Germany with lntombi Zomqangala.
Joyline Sibanda is a singer and dancer and an original member of Nobuntu.
The 2022-23 Main Stage Series is made possible with the generous support from the following individuals and organizations:
Katherine Bergmann
Beano Solomon
Allison and Benjy Boxer, Bob Shallenberg, Eileen & Pete Kintner, Holly Etlin, Jan Manning, Jodi & Doug Berman, Joy & Bruce Soll, Mark Gottung, Michael & Erin Ruzek, Patricia Lebow, Robin Hauser, Randi and Brian Schwartz, Mindy and Randy Wolpert, St. Regis Deer Valley, The Park City Community Foundation, The Promontory Foundation, The Doubletree Hotel, Summit County Cultural RAP Tax, WESTAF, Park City Chamber of Commerce, and the Utah Division of Arts & Museums