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“The City of Kings has been known for its strong Ndebele cultural tradition, a vibrant arts city which has been the aorta of traditional dancing groups. The city’s culture, whose norms and dressing are largely influenced by South Africa, prides itself of its own music genres some of which can be mistaken for South African.

“Musically, legends like self-exiled Lovemore Tshuma popularly known as Majaivana backed by his Zulu Band, the late Fanyana Dube and the Job’s Combination, Solomon Skuza, Busi Ncube, Ndux Malax, Eye of Liberty, Africa Revenge, Albert Nyathi, Ebony Sheikh and the now defunct Ilanga notably all emerged from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city.

“The demise of these talented icons, coupled with the unceremonious departure of Majaivana to the USA saw the emergence of a music star, Jeys Marabini, who is steadily but surely rising to be an international star.”

Vava has taken over on behalf of Jive Zimbabwe, as Marabini’s manager and although he is based in Harare, he will have to frequent Bulawayo more often to ensure that things are working well with his artiste.

Jeys Marabini has steadily but surely risen to become a force to reckon with not only in Bulawayo, but Africa and the world over.

Born Majahawodwa Ndlovu, in Filabusi in 1971, and is the seventh child in a family of nine boys, he attended Dekezi Primary and Dekezi Secondary schools. His musical background can be traced from secondary school, but it was not until 1991 at the age of 20 that he decided to become a professional musician forming a band called Comforting Brothers, which later changed its name to Imbizo. It was at this time that he assumed the name “Jeys Marabini”, presumably from the Marabi type of music he plays.

Immediately after the establishment of Imbizo in Bulawayo, the gifted vocalist was soon approached by a representative of the group Sunduza Boys which had made a name in the City of Kings after they had seen his electrifying performance. Now as the lead vocalist of the group Jeys and the Sunduza Boys embarked on their Indian and United Kingdom tour which lasted for six months.

The tour saw Jeys performing at some of the world’s biggest festivals like WOMAD (World of Music and Dance), LAMATREE, Glastonbury and Edinburgh festivals, to mention just a few.

The tour that had taken Jeys from Zimbabwe to the United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, USA and the Middle East and back to Africa was to produce at the end of it, not only a music promoter but the first Zimbabwean to establish a music promotions company in Europe called Equator Company.

The Equator Company signed its first promotional deal with Albert Nyathi, who was entering the international arena for the first time. This was followed by the late Marshall Munhumumwe and the Four Brothers. Imbizo and Siyaya Arts all from Zimbabwe also made their breakthrough into the international scene via the same route.

After the successful world tour Jeys Marabini came back home to take a well-deserved break before the formation of a 10-member band called Kozekulunge in 2002.

The band has the following members: On lead vocals and acoustic guitar is the man himself Jeys Marabini, on bass guitar is Kevin Ndlovu, on lead guitar, Mthabisi Moyo, on drums, Trevor Mnaphi. There are three vocalists, Dumisani Nkomo, Faith Moyo and Fatwell Ncube, and on saxophone is Julius Ndoro.

Jeys Marabini’s type of music is a fusion of afro-jazz, accapella, traditional and imbube music which are all a consolidation of sweet melodies from yesteryear Africa up until the present time, blended with modern instruments.

He recorded his debut album “Emarabini” in 2002 and the video “Emarabini” was voted the Video of the Year at the Zimbabwe Music Awards the same year.

The second album “Thuthukani Ngothando” (2005) did very well on the market with the video “Umuzikababa” nominated for Zima Awards as well. Jeys’ third album “Sounds of Today and Tomorrow” (2005) contained the hit song “Amalungelo”.

He also did a DVD, “Live at Bulawayo Rainbow” that is currently on the market and also featured on Gramma Records video adverts on Zimbabwe Television and the South African channel Trade and Tourism.

The fourth album, “Jeys Marabini One Time” (2008) sold like hot cakes with a video “Ezinangeni” appearing on the Zimbabwe Television musical programme Ezomgido. The album is a clear testimony of a musician whose limit is not even the sky.

This explains why besides being a well-respected recording artiste, he is one of the rare breed of musicians capable of providing rare grooves and cosmopolitan types of music.

Jeys performed alongside one of the world’s greatest like Peter Gabriel in the USA and some of South Africa’s renowned musicians like The Soul Brothers, Bhekumuzi Luthuli, Freddy Gwala, Platform One, Mzwakhe Mbuli and Jeff Maluleke in Polokwane “Artistes Against Xenophobia” in South Africa. Jeys has also performed with renowned artistes Shwi Nomtekhala, the King of Sungura Alick Macheso, Tongai Moyo and superstar Oliver Mtukudzi, to mention just a few. This has seen Jeys Marabini performing at national galas and festivals Umdala Wethu Gala, Heroesplush and Unity Gala held in Victoria Falls one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo, Mthwakazi Arts Festival, Bulawayo Agenda and the Zimbabwe Red Cross.

Jeys’ fifth album, “Izenzo” (2010) was recorded at Khula Records in South Africa. The album features Nana Coyote of Stimela from South Africa and Zim’s Ndatshi Mkhize of the Mahlathini and Mahotela Queens fame of yesteryear.

“Jeys@40” is Jeys Marabini’s latest album, recorded in South Africa in late 2011 and released in June 2012. Songs from this sixth album are topping the charts in Zimbabwe.

On the philanthropist side Jeys Marabini is doing community projects in the form of promoting and supporting the young and the old upcoming musicians like The Managers, Black Face, Ndatshi Mkhize and Thethelela Dube to record. The project seeks to promote Global Unity by communicating with the world through music.

In September last year Jeys performed at Tuku@60, Oliver Mtukudzi’s birthday concert, with some of Africa’s best musicians such as Ringo Madlingozi, Judith Sephuma and others.
In 2012 Jeys Marabini attended Roots Music from Africa, a festival held annually in Vienna, Austria. He was backed by the internationally acclaimed Insingizi band.

Indeed, the future of music in Bulawayo is guaranteed if people like Jeys Marabini remain there. He is currently the pride of Bulawayo in music circles.

What has happened in the past is that many Bulawayo musicians have fled the city and gone to Harare, South Africa and overseas, thus depriving the City of Kings much deserved entertainment.

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