From the streets of Bulawayo to the world-famous tourism capital of Victoria Falls, one imbube group has continued to preserve the heartbeat of traditional Zimbabwean acapella music while adapting to a changing entertainment industry.

Formerly known as Amahlosi Asendle Arts, the group was formed in 1998 before relocating to Victoria Falls in 2001, where they later rebranded in 2010 to reflect the city they now proudly represent.

Over the years, the group has endured loss, change and transformation, with some members leaving and others sadly passing on.

Despite the challenges, the surviving crew has remained committed to the craft, recording three albums and continuing to perform across Zimbabwe’s tourism and entertainment spaces, this is accordingly to their group member Sibangilizwe Sibanda. Who had a conversation with My Kasi Magazine.

“The group was formerly known as Amahlosi Asendle Arts formed in Bulawayo then traveled to Victoria Falls in 2001.

” We changed the name in 2010 to Victoria Falls as we were based in the city,” said Sibangilizwe Sibanda.

At a time when many modern genres dominate the music scene, the group says imbube music survives because of passion rather than recognition.

“Imbube is not that recognised much and you have to do it with passion, that’s why we are still on it,” said Sibangilizwe Sibanda.

Their performances have become a major attraction in Victoria Falls, where traditional music often forms part of the tourism experience in hotels, weddings and cultural showcases.

One of their recent highlights was performing at Gemma Griffith’s wedding, an appearance they say elevated their profile significantly.

“That was a big privilege to perform at such events. It brought more following, coverage and unlocked some other fan bases where we were not known,”explained Sibanda.

The group also revealed that the wedding performance became one of their most memorable moments on stage.

“One of the best shows it gave us a huge following and trends,” added Sibanda.

Rooted deeply in Matabeleland culture, the group blends powerful harmonies with traditional dances and multiple Zimbabwean languages to create a unique sound that resonates with both locals and international visitors.

“Mostly we are centered on Matabeleland sounds and languages. We diversify especially in languages and do some traditional cultural dances around Zimbabwe,” added Sibangilizwe Sibanda.

Beyond entertainment, the group believes imbube music plays an important role in promoting Zimbabwean tourism, especially in Victoria Falls where cultural performances have become part of the visitor experience.

“It plays a big role. Mostly hotels have an imbube group performing and it markets tourism at large,” said Sibanda.

However, balancing originality with modern trends remains one of their greatest challenges as artists trying to remain relevant in today’s entertainment industry.

“We are having a challenge because we have to keep its originality and we also have to go with time.

“So we look at what type of show it is and prepare what suits there.”

The group also highlighted the difficulties of building recognition while operating from smaller communities compared to artists based in major cities.

“We are from a small place where it’s hard to be recognised than when you’re from big cities,” noted Sibanda.

Still, community support continues to inspire and motivate them.

“It gives us hope and trust in what we’re doing,” said Sibanda.

Looking ahead, the group has no plans of slowing down. Alongside regular performances at Elephant Hills during dinner events and several private bookings, they are already preparing to release their next album in October.

“We have some other private function bookings, always performing at Elephant Hills during dinner, and we’re preparing for our next album in October,” he revealed.