77TH SEASON OF

CONCERTS

national gallery of art | november 18, 2018
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Nobuntu 

Duduzile Sibanda, vocals 

Zanele Manhenga, vocals 

Heather Dube, vocals 

Thandeka Moyo, vocals 

Joyline Sibanda, vocals

November 18, 2018 | 3:30

West Building, West Garden Court

Today’s concert will be selected from the following repertoire:

Duduzile Sibanda

“Uyangiphoxa”

Thandeka Moyo

“Uthixo”

Dumisani Moyo

“Cry Song”

Zanele Manhenga

“Nobuntu Click Song”

Heather Dube

“Streets”

Zanele Manhenga

“Cula”

Traditional, arr. Japhet Mlauzi

“Silele”

Dumisani Moyo

“Obabes Bembube”

Zanele Manhenga

“Misodzi”

Traditional

“Ewuwe”

Linda Tillery and the 

Cultural Heritage Choir

“Lay Down”

Zanele Manhenga

“Avumile”

Heather Dube

“Umusa”

Traditional, arr. Nobuntu

“Amazing Grace”

Traditional, arr. Zanele Manhenga

“Moya Moya”

Zanele Manhenga

“Impi”

PROGRAM

Photo by Tswarelo Mothobe
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PROGRAM NOTES

“Uyangiohoxa”

In this song, we blame all woes and troubles on Satan, and we ask for courage and 

strength from the Almighty.

“Uthixo”

A sacred song of praise. Uthixo is Ndebele — one of the main languages of Zimbabwe — 

for the Creator.

“Cry Song”

This is a cry to stop all forms of abuse against all peoples and nations. 

“Nobuntu Click Song”

This song in Ndebele features unusual clicking sounds.

“Streets”

This song of empowerment encourages people to be themselves and proud of who 

they are.

“Cula”

A song fixes any emotion. We encourage anyone who’s “down and out” to sing, and 

they will be happy again. If you are happy, sing some more.

“Silele”

This song talks about a spiritual healer who is a wanderer. In our culture, spiritual 

healers are revered and always sought for advice.

“Obabes Bembube

This song pays homage to the type of music that we do. We’ve been affectionately 

called “Obabes BeMbube” (women of a cappella) by our fans. The song celebrates us 

and what Mbube has done to us, giving us the opportunity to travel the world.

“Misodzi”

A mother encourages her child to stand up and fight for whatever he or she wants.

“Ewuwe”

A medley of traditional lullabies. 

THE ENSEMBLE

Nobuntu is a five-part a cappella 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. The group’s repertoire is a 

fusion of traditional Zimbabwean-rooted music, Afro jazz, gospel, and crossover, sung 

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, held in London. Additionally, the video of “Narini”— 

the cappella’s lead single from its second album, Ekhaya (2016) — was number one of 

the Top 10 Zimbabwean Music Videos on DSTV’s Zambezi Magic TV. It remained in the 

Top 10 for more than four weeks.

Nobuntu is 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 to rectify the absence of an all-female professional 

a cappella group in Bulawayo and Zimbabwe as a whole. The ensemble’s mission is 

anchored in the belief that music is the most important and original wheel of change. 

The group’s music is an expression of a new generation of young women singers who 

transcend racial, tribal, religious, gender, and economic boundaries.

Nobuntu’s singers celebrate — through their voices and movement — the “identities” of being an African woman. Their voices, energy, and breathtaking performances 

are an experience that communicates humanity. The release of their debut album in 

2013, titled Thina, immediately took the singers beyond their African borders to countries 

such as Austria, Germany, Belgium, and the Czech Republic, where they played in 

concert halls, theaters, and festivals, including Voice Mania in Vienna and Trans-Vocal 

in Frankfurt-Oder.

Nobuntu’s Ekhaya album pays homage to all things African, from beauty and 

values, to norms as a people. The album is an attempt to leave behind a world and 

legacy that future generations will be happy to inherit and preserve. The album 

highlights the importance of a place called home (ekhaya).
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“Lay Down”

This is a motivational song sung by slaves as they worked in the fields. It encourages 

one to keep going even in the toughest situation.

“Avumile”

This is a victory song.

“Umusa”

Here we encourage kindness and love to prevail in our society at all times.

“Amazing Grace”

Our imbube (a cappella) version of the famous song “Amazing Grace.” 

“Moya Moya”

In this song, a sad woman laments her inability to have children. She’s considered 

inadequate and incomplete in the eyes of society.

“Impi”

This is our warrior song where we thank the Almighty for fighting for us and helping us 

see places we never imagined we’d see.

Upcoming Events of the SeventySeventh Season of The William Nelson 

Cromwell and F. Lammot Belin Concerts

Unless otherwise noted, concerts 

are held in the West Building, West 

Garden Court.

PROJECT Trio

Sound Sketches

East Building Mezzanine

November 23, 12:10 

M5 Mexican Brass

Brasscinación

November 25, 3:30 

PIQSIQ

Inuit style throat singers 

East Building Auditorium

November 29, 12:00 

Carolina Eyck + American 

Contemporary Music Ensemble

Fantasias

December 2, 3:30

Caroling in the Rotunda

U. S. Army Chorus

MSG Jason Gottshall, conductor 

West Building Rotunda 

December 8, 1:30 and 2:30

Caroling in the Rotunda

Encore Chorale

Jeanne Kelly, director

West Building Rotunda 

December 9, 1:30 and 2:30

General Information

Admission to the National Gallery of Art 

and all of its programs is free of charge, 

except as noted.

The use of cameras or recording 

equipment during the performance 

is not allowed.

Please be sure that all portable electronic 

devices are turned off.

—

Concerts are made possible in part 

through the generosity of donors to the 

National Gallery of Art through The Circle. 

Reserved seating is available in recognition 

of their support. Please contact the 

development office at (202) 842-6450 or 

circle@nga.gov for more information.

—

The department of music produced 

these program notes. Copyright © 2018 

Board of Trustees, National Gallery of Art, 

Washington

Cover Alma Thomas, Autumn Drama

(detail), c. 1969, National Gallery of Art, 

Washington, Corcoran Collection (The 

Evans-Tibbs Collection, Gift of Thurlow 

Evans Tibbs, Jr.) 
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NGA.GOV/MUSIC