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Part of Holly’s Hotel that was gutted by fire on Sunday night. The joint usually hosts several musicians. One person was reportedly injured. – Picture by Munyaradzi Chamalimba

Arts Correspondent

Little known Mbira musician, Lloyd Mukumba has recorded a song that encourages young people to read and use libraries in their quest for knowledge. Backed by the Orchestra Mbira Group, Mukumba’s song can easily be hit on a subject that not many musicians have sung about. In the song, he says that failure to use the libraries could result in the youth indulging in anti-social behaviour. The song titled “Usava Rombe” is in English and Shona.In an interview Mukumba, whose voice can easily be mistaken for that of Chimurenga guru, Thomas Mapfumo, challenged all the people who have benefited from attending schools equipped with libraries to support them through various fundraising activities.

He encouraged Zimbabweans involved in self-help projects to research in libraries to obtain information that could enable their projects to succeed. “This song was inspired by the need to encourage people to study and never lose hope in life,” he said. “Those who are into self-help projects should also utilise the libraries to search for information which helps them in their projects. “Failure to accomplish projects is an option where the information is easily accessible through a library.” The mbira instrument is played with great expertise, complimented by drums. Zimbabwe Rural Schools Library Trust’s Musical Project Manager, Driden Kunaka based in New Zealand, has expressed satisfaction at the progress made to date in preparing for the album launch despite financial challenges.

Kunaka said the album has a dual purpose because it can serve as a tool to lobby for library development and encourage people to read and use libraries while raising funds to be invested in libraries.

“We have been working on this for the past two years, but we are determined to see it

Through and with five songs already recorded, there is no going back.” Musicians Pastor Charles Charamba, Denzel Mombeyarara, Sandra Ndebele and Jeys

Marabini have also recorded their songs, while Leonard Zhakata has laid instruments and will add voice to his contribution to the album. Canadian based Renaissance Mbira Group, Zimbabwean based Elvis Muchenje, Hamilton West School in New Zealand and Zimbabwean school girl Faith Kunaka are at various stages of completing their projects.

Mukumba has been in showbiz since 2002 when he joined a mbira outfit the Shuhwa Brothers before teaming up with other colleagues to form Orchestra Mbira, which at one time was threatened with collapse due to various challenges.