IPI NTOMBI, THE MUSICAL

I wasn't even sure if it was music or a group of villagers telling some kind of story in a language not familiar. I had taken the bus from Eastside heading to Lagos when busriding was fun and easy without much ado. I reached Lagos and got stuck at Ido Motor Park where buses from the Eastside called the last bus stop, that is, if you travelled afar, beyond Imo River. Sweet journey, as it was, and reaching the city, life would change dramatically. Still a hippy, and still feeling like bursting loose, the Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers way, it was indeed a long journey by bus.

Reaching my destination off Ojo Road, a two record set sitting on a table was playing on a turntable. It was Bertha Egnos "controversial musical Ipi N'Tombi" meaning where are the girls, playing and my mood twisted all of a sudden from the funk era. I wasn't really sure if that was my kind of music, but learning for the fact the Apartheid regime has caused too much pain to the black population in South Africa, I began to pay attention. I played the music over and over again and got a clue of what pain and suffering was all about.

The South African musical about a marriage ceremony for a young couple, a witchdoctor, a Boer settler and Zulu warrior "once engaged in bloody battles" led by lead singer Margaret Singana had no parallel to any musical of the day.

The album, produced by a mother/daughter team (Bertha Egnos and Gail Lakier), from the opening track of a well-rehearsed lyrical stage perfomance to the drumbeats of The Warrior, no doubt, you will be moved by the time you are done listening to every track, which of course are all masterpieces.

I have taken time to listen to all the tracks over and over again, and it's just amazing. For the record, Osibisa, remade "The Warrior" during the groups PYE years in London.

The Tracks:

1. Ipi Ntombi
2. Narration; Sesiya Hamba; Drinking Song; Thando Le Phe
3. Korbosha (Down By The River)
4. Andy's Song
5. Moriva
6. Hakelejeje
7. Narration; The Batism; Roll Up Yonder
8. Bona Noga
9. The Witchdoctor; Mother Mary
10.Narration; Nadia
11.Egoli
12.Serantebhule; Pennywhistle
13.Emdudeni; Uhlele
14.The Click
15.Narration; The Child
16.Narration; Mama Tembu's Wedding
17.Baby, Baby; Soweto By Night
18.Wishing
19.Ndoba Sathini Nina; Zimbaba
20.Baby Baby
21.Shosholoza
22.The Digger
23.Narration; Lashoni Langa
24.The Warrior
25.Bayete
26.Ipi Ntombi