©2009 Full Circle Magazine.
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48
September 2009 Vol6 No9
When Mzwandile Mtyobile moved to
Cape Town from Tarkastad in the Eastern
Cape in 1999 he struggled to get a job. On
bad days his mind would wander back home
and recall the good times there, the laughter
and the singing. Especially the singing!
Mzwandile had always been a singer and never
let the lack of formal training deter him from
doing what he loved. To keep occupied and
possibly earn some money, he thought it may be
a good idea to start singing again. So he
gathered three of his friends from the Eastern
Cape who had settled in Imizamo Yethu, and
they readily agreed to join him.
They called themselves Brothers With Voices
and the group quickly grew to eight singers (a
number which has fluctuated slightly since then
as some members have left and others joined).
The core group is Mzwandile Mtyobile (Lead
Singer); Siphelo Mantyi (First Tenor); Mzwanele
Mbalki (First Tenor); Lubabalo Jako (Second
Tenor); Andile Funcuza (Alto); Lulama Mzeleni
(Bass); Mbelelo Mbovane (Bass); and Linda
Ngacu (Bass) and they sing traditional African
songs a cappella. All the singers add value to the
group and all participate in the song-writing
process.
The group quickly found a ready audience in
Imizamo Yethu and became very popular. In fact,
on Youth Day 2005 they were presented with the
Group of the Year award at the Imizamo Yethu
Community Awards function.
Brothers With Voices practised every day and
performed whenever they were invited. As good
as they are, all they had were their voices. No
audio equipment, no instruments and transport –
nothing. Getting to and from venues became a
major mission for eight men but they persevered.
Eventually Dwynne Griesel, Director of the
Kronendal Music Academy in Hout Bay, heard of
(and heard) the Brothers and set about assisting
them as much as she could. Dwynne has helped
them raise money and must be credited with
giving them their first breaks out of Imizamo
Yethu. She has also helped them raise money by
including them in Academy performances.
It was while they were performing at an
Academy function, that Ike Moriz first heard
Brothers With Voices. Ike was absolutely
fascinated by their raw natural talent and he too
decided to see what he could do to help Brothers
With Voices and has become their de- facto
Manager.
Having a teaching degree in music, Ike
coached the group to smooth over the rough
edges, he lent them audio equipment and has
transported them to and from gigs – often having
to make two trips each way to get the whole
group (and equipment) to the gigs and back.
“We had never sung with a piano before,”
confesses Mzwandile. “Ike taught us how and
how to sing with other instruments. We owe a lot
to that man. He has been very good to us.”
Ike has also sponsored studio time at Paris
Studios in Fish Hoek and recorded an album,
Peace Dream, which included some traditional
African songs, some Ladysmith Black Mambazo
songs, some Brothers With Voices originals and
the title track an isiXhosa cover of one of Ike’s
own songs. The album and the band will draw
inevitable comparisons with Ladysmith Black
Mambazo, which is a double-edged sword. On
the one hand it contextualises Brothers With
Voices and their musical aspirations, and on the
other they don’t want to be cast purely as a LBM
cover-band. However, this shouldn’t be seen in a
negative light. What is wrong after all, with being
considered Cape Town’s own version of South
Africa’s most successful band in history, as
Joseph Shabalala’s multi-Grammy-winning group
most certainly is?
“We write and sing songs about our community
and about South Africa,” says Mzwandile. “We
want to put out a message in our songs. Linda
wrote a song called Child Abuse to make people
aware of this terrible problem in South Africa.”
The Brothers have all found jobs as the years
have gone by … Mzwandile becoming a Teacher’s
Assistant at the Oranjekloof Moravian School in
Hout Bay. However, they all still practise every day
in the evening and dream of the time they can all
give up their ‘day jobs’ and become fully
professional singers.
“I wish the people of Cape Town can help us to
achieve our dream,” Mzwandile says. “If
businesses have functions and events and want
authentic African entertainment, let us come and
sing for you. We will show you how good we are
and make your guests happy!” Any restaurants,
B&Bs, shopping centres or businesses that are
looking for something different should consider
Brothers With Voices.
If people have any unused sound-systems,
speakers, microphones or musical instruments
they would be very helpful to the Brothers. If any
car-dealers wish to sponsor a vehicle they are
bound to get great mileage out of them, if you’ll
excuse the pun.
With 2010 just around the corner and Cape
Town expecting a flood of overseas tourists
looking for an authentic African experience,
Brothers With Voices is going to be in very high
demand. World Cup hosts should really get in
early and book their services before it’s too late
because one thing is guaranteed – they will be
booked out!
Mzwandile Mtyobile
Ike offering Mzwandile some advice
artist profile
Brothers with Voices
by Sean Houghton
