Lovemore Majaivana
Encyclopedia
Lovemore "Majaivana" Tshuma (born 1954), commonly known as Lovemore Majaivana is a Zimbabwe
an musician
, arguably the most popular Ndebele
singer, and by far the most prominent to have come out of Bulawayo
. He earned the stage name 'Majaivana' (which means good dancer) for his exceptional dancing.
band. After moving to the capital city, Salisbury (now Harare
) he gave up drumming and began singing in nightclubs covering Tom Jones
and Elvis Presley
songs. After playing in Bulawayo for four years, he returned to Salisbury and formed his own band, obs Combination]named after Job's Nightclub (owned by then businessman Job Kadengu) where the group was the resident band].
which featured two of his brothers. Finally having a stable base from which to work, Majaivana and his band released an album of traditional folk songs, Salanini Zinini, that he and his brothers had learned from their mother in 1984. From then, he progressed away from his former Western influences, and his popularity steadily grew especially in Ndebele
speaking Matebeleland and Bulawayo
in particular. His first international album was released in 1990.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, arguably the most popular Ndebele
Northern Ndebele language
The Northern Ndebele language, isiNdebele, or Ndebele is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, and spoken by the Ndebele or Matabele people of Zimbabwe. It is commonly known as Sindebele....
singer, and by far the most prominent to have come out of Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
. He earned the stage name 'Majaivana' (which means good dancer) for his exceptional dancing.
Early life and career
Majaivana sang in the church choir in which his father was minister. By the age of 15 he became a drummer in a local BulawayoBulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
band. After moving to the capital city, Salisbury (now Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
) he gave up drumming and began singing in nightclubs covering Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
and Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
songs. After playing in Bulawayo for four years, he returned to Salisbury and formed his own band, obs Combination]named after Job's Nightclub (owned by then businessman Job Kadengu) where the group was the resident band].
1974 - Early 80s
Jobs Combination involved teaming up with blind singer Fanyana Dube, performing various popular musical idioms. They had several successful singles early on, and their debut album, Isitimela, was a big seller. Despite all this, the band broke up shortly thereafter, and Majaivana sang with the Real Sounds for about two months.1980s Popularity
The turning point in his career came when he joined the Zulus, a band from Victoria FallsVictoria Falls
The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya is a waterfall located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe.-Introduction:...
which featured two of his brothers. Finally having a stable base from which to work, Majaivana and his band released an album of traditional folk songs, Salanini Zinini, that he and his brothers had learned from their mother in 1984. From then, he progressed away from his former Western influences, and his popularity steadily grew especially in Ndebele
Northern Ndebele language
The Northern Ndebele language, isiNdebele, or Ndebele is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, and spoken by the Ndebele or Matabele people of Zimbabwe. It is commonly known as Sindebele....
speaking Matebeleland and Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
in particular. His first international album was released in 1990.
Albums
- IsitimelaIsitimelaIsitimela was the fourth release by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It was released in June 1974.-Track listing:# "Isitimela"# "Vulan' Amasango"# "Jomba Mlaleli"# "Sasuka Lemakhaya"# "Wematshitshi"...
- Salanini Zinini
- Jazi Manikiniki
- The Best of Lovemore Majaivana
- Isono Sami
- Ezilodumo Zakamajee
- Lovemore Majaivana