Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
AFRO Jazz artiste Qeqeshiwe Mntambo announced her return to the music scene on Saturday night with a sterling performance at the National Gallery in Bulawayo.
Performing in front of a full house at the show which was also attended by her parents, Qeqe launched her single Kumnyama which was received well by the appreciative crowd.
Some of the lyrics in Qeqe’s single sung in Xhosa, loosely translated mean her life’s path was dark and she needed someone to light up her way.
This was like a testimony that Afro Jazz music was the career path she had been looking for.
Three years ago Qeqe, a former dancer with Sandra Ndebele’s Intombi Zomqangala, pursued a music career as a house artiste but things did not go according to plan.
Qeqe emphasised during her performance that her career was hinged on her Xhosa roots as relatives and friends from Mbembesi performed periodic mock stick fighting, much to the delight of the crowd.
When Qeqe performed her single Kumnyama, some in the crowd could not help but stand from their seats, dance and sing along to the groovy Afro Jazz beat.
The dancers included her 103-year-old grandmother.
In the crowd were Sandra Ndebele, Mbo Mahocs, Raisedon Baya, Michelle Mudau and StarBrite 2015 winner Seagirl and her twin sister Ntombiyolwandle who sing with Qeqe in an all female jazz band One Stand.
Backed by veteran jazz band Men at Work, Qeqe wowed the crowd.