The ManicaPost
Blessing Gondokondo Entertainment Correspondent —
A BUDDING Mutare artiste Kombai Matonhodze has defied the odds and released a 12-track debut album and a profile magazine which will be on sale soon.
The Orchaestrate musician makes traditional instruments for his music with traditional objects.
The musician-cum producer says he draws inspiration from the ancient musicians who used to make music with different day-to-day objects and loved by all.
“I am an all rounder; I make music, sing the music and create the instruments for my music. I use traditional objects that produce different sounds to make music,” said Kombai Matonhodze. The released book is titled Kombai Matonhodze and Hadyana Centre will be launched soon. He said it talks of the instruments that he makes using traditional objects at his cultural centre called Hadyana Centre.
These instruments include the famous mbira, nyere (flute), dimbwa (traditional bow), marimba, gandira, trumpets and so on.
Kombai said he graduated in music and psychology at Africa University which enabled him to be a great music maker and singer.
“During my time at school I learned that ethno-music’s essence these days has lost its taste and its instruments are no longer being played in the day-to-day lives in music. I have grown to making a change and to teach those in music whom I work with and the young ones about these ancient music sounds and instruments,” he said.
He added that: “In the bible Psalm 150:3-5 talks of using mbira and trumpets as the perfect music sounds and these instruments were used David. 1Chronicles 25 from verse 1 says there is prophesy in the sounds produced by mbira and trumpets. Therefore these have moved me throughout my whole life and I am glad that most people are beginning to understand this type of music I play.”
“There is a lot of work in my type of genre since a lot of research, making and playing the instrument I make then making the music all together.
“I will alert my audience that more albums and instruments are yet to come in 2017,” said Kombai.
