IT is quite common to introduce a popular music group as outspoken and star laden. For the 2024 nominated Kora Awards Best African Group Urban Music Category, multi-award-winning musical trio, Fusion 5 Mangwiro Band, it is all about its innovative style centred on well-crafted guitar melodies, harmonies and catchy riffs.
The group is made up of Brian Maguta, Gilbert Gwatidzo and Aaron Manyati.
Moreso, taking the award winning song and video Bonde (bed mat and in this case, sexual intimacy) as an example, the arguments and debate surrounding sexual advance in marriage are all taught in a captivating way.
A carefully crafted multi-melody Afro-fused progression otherwise called a guitar suite by Mwenje Mathole was and is still good enough not only to gain universal appeal but accounting for the group’s invitation to tour China.
Maguta told NewsDay Life & Style that their group sings in a number of languages including English, Sotho, Ndebele and at times Mandarin.
“We only released one album called Mixed Feeelings that was in 2022 and people loved the music and we are still receiving compliments and testimonies of how the music is changing lives. We also have new singles to release in due course.
“In 2016, we went through a talent search programme, Dream Star, and we finished in the top three and since then, we have been touring China, performing and selling our music.
“The challenge we are facing is that few people in Zimbabwe pay attention to our music and even the way they appreciate us during live shows is lower than the international community. The music industry in Zimbabwe and Africa at large has many lessons to take from China,” Maguta said.
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Fusion 5 Mangwiro Band is visible on social media and internet with hit songs such as Kuhope, Mhamha ft. Minister Mahendere, African Woman, Mistake, Lucky, Bonde ft Mwenje Mathole and Mango.
This culminated in several nominations and wins.
Maguta said their tour of China and several parts of the world facilitated by the China Zimbabwe Exchange Centre helped them to create a deep appreciation of Zimbabwean culture.
