About Us
WHO IS GREAT STARS “IJONGOSI”
Great Stars ‘Ijongosi’ is an extra ordinary music and dance ensemble, that specialises in Imbube/ Acapella Music and some Southern African Traditional Dances such as Zulu Dance, Gumboot Dance and Isitshikitsha among others. The group is based in Bulawayo the Cultural Capital of Zimbabwe.
The group started as a church group in Silobela Nkayi District, and transformed to Great Stars Ijongosi in December 2011, named by P. Donga who was inspired by Black Umfolosi as well as Indosakusa and other Imbube Groups.
The name is an appreciation of the amazing light provided by Stars at night. Our music brings life to souls as it entertains, educate and consceitise. It stands like light that over comes darkness, hence the name “Great Stars”. The group “Great Stars” has nickname ‘Ijongosi’ this is a description of a young energetic male cow. The nickname came from our Audience, who watched and marveled at our vibrant dance activity on stage, hence the name ‘Ijongosi’. The dancesteps and energy applied in our performance is fresh, unbeatable and like never seen before.
BRIEF HISTORY
The group was formed first and foremost as a means of self-employment, in a situation of high level of unemployment, due to economic Meltdown in our country Zimbabwe. Therefore as a means of survival we could resort to using our voices for a career. Great Stars Ijongosi music covers a variety of topics inducing but not limited to love, social issues, environmental issues, human rights issues and general topics of what we experience or see around us in our day to day living. The songs are accompanied with some spectacular dances that we make up ourselves and some that we derived from our traditional dances that had been passed on from generation to generation.
The group is self-taught, and all the choreography is done jointly by group members, under the co-ordination of the Lead Singer and Artistic Director Philani Donga.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Most of our generation was hooked up to Mbaqanga, Maskandi, Disco, Kwaito genres, and we decided to be custodians of Imbube Music, so that it is fully preserved for the future generations. It was in our interest to further expose to the rest of the world with Imbube Music, as only a few Imbube groups has made it to the international 4 Arena, Ijongosi to be counted amongst those that had made it outside Zimbabwe.
MISSION STATEMENT
- Excellency in service delivery at all times.
- Passionate for reaching the highest levels of achievement as a most creative Imbube Arts Groups.
- Customer’s interest comes first