First, to answer @iMisred
In the pic, top to bottom; Virgillio Ignacio and Keith Farquharson (the two keyboardists)
From left, Charlie Mangena, Andy Brown, Busi Ncube, Don Gumbo, Gibson Nyoni
In the pic, top to bottom; Virgillio Ignacio and Keith Farquharson (the two keyboardists)
From left, Charlie Mangena, Andy Brown, Busi Ncube, Don Gumbo, Gibson Nyoni
Where, and when, to even begin talking about Ilanga. It’s amazing that this band was together for less than four years, but created so much in that short period of time. 
What’s tough about a thread on Ilanga is that they were all stars, and telling their story as a collective almost seems like a disservice. But their story starts somewhere around 1985, Bulawayo.
Ilanga was formed by guys who came from different bands. Don Gumbo was a session bassist. Andy Brown, after leaving school at Founders, played a bit with Ebony Sheikh, where Busi sang with her sisters Siphathisiwe and Doreen (with George Pahlani)
The amazing thing about how Ilanga got together is that they all found each other when their careers seemed to be stalling. Andy’s band Grabb! (With Rozalla) had fallen apart. Busi had left her band, Champ, and was singing 5 nights a week at Job’s Night Spot. Tight.
In 1985 or 1986, Don, Andy, and Charlie Mangena formed Ilanga, Busi Ncube joined soon after. They merged with Barrel of Peace, which was Keith Farquarson and Cde Chinx. Two separate bands, but really one.
This was the combined band playing Chinx’s Ngorimba at Harare Gardens
This was the combined band playing Chinx’s Ngorimba at Harare Gardens
Ilanga recorded a few singles before hitting the big time; this one, “Stepping Stepping”, was one of their earliest hit singles. Introducing them to Zim, with a new and unique sound
Their first album, Visions Foretold, came out in 1987. It displayed their activism, with that song against apartheid’s Botha.
“Botha, watchu gonna do when Azania is free
Botha, you just have to jump into the sea..”
“Botha, watchu gonna do when Azania is free
Botha, you just have to jump into the sea..”
In 1988, Ilanga released their second album, Silver and Gold.
The title track on which Andy Brown was really, let’s face it, showing off on that crazy lead guitar. Incredibe talent.
It was another politically concious album. “People are killing one another, because of money..”
The title track on which Andy Brown was really, let’s face it, showing off on that crazy lead guitar. Incredibe talent.
It was another politically concious album. “People are killing one another, because of money..”
But this is the album that carried Ilanga’s biggest hit, True Love.
It had been released earlier as a single, written by Busi Ncube.
That song, and Andy’s opening guitar riff on its own, has for more than two decades saved many weddings and parties from collapse.
It had been released earlier as a single, written by Busi Ncube.
That song, and Andy’s opening guitar riff on its own, has for more than two decades saved many weddings and parties from collapse.
Here’s Busi Ncube performing True Love at Harare Gardens.
Oh Busi 😍 (swoon)
Oh Busi 😍 (swoon)
A highlight of Ilanga’s career was performing at the 1988 Human Rights Concert in Harare, which featured many global stars
Meshing together various sounds from Southern Africa with Zimbabwe’s old rhythms, Ilanga created a new sound they called “Hybrid”.
Here’s a very young Andy explaining their sound
Here’s a very young Andy explaining their sound
Don Gumbo was the centre of the band. He was as strong-willed as he was talented. No nonsense guy. He had a big fight with Munya Brown, Jamaican drummer who had joined the band after touring with reggae band Misty in Roots. Munya left the band after differences with Don.
When Munya Brown left, some expected Don to show regret. But he instead said it was “a blessing in disguise”. Munya left during recording; his replacement was an electronic drum machine. The machine used on the hit Shosholoza was the “magic formula” the group needed, Don remarked
But that fight with Munya Brown was a sign of more to come. In Don Gumbo and Andy, you had two strong characters. A fight was inevitable. Andy Brown left after a big clash with Don. He went to SA and had a stint with a reggae band, Jambo.
According to Keith Farquarson, in one interview, Andy’s departure was the death of Ilanga.
”Ilanga lost Andy Brown after a disagreement between him and Don. After that, things were never the same — the musical magic was no longer there.”
”Ilanga lost Andy Brown after a disagreement between him and Don. After that, things were never the same — the musical magic was no longer there.”
The final split came after a UK tour, and it was partly over money from the tour. Busi Ncube says one day they were in Don’s Mabelreign house, chilling and smoking, then “all of a sudden Don just chased everyone out.”
And that was the end of Ilanga.
What’s fascinating? Ilanga is “the sun”. When they split, Don, Busi and Andy all formed bands with names to do with the weather.
Don formed Tshisalanga, Andy formed The Storm, and Busi formed The Band Rain.
Coincidence or friends’ design? 🤔
What’s fascinating? Ilanga is “the sun”. When they split, Don, Busi and Andy all formed bands with names to do with the weather.
Don formed Tshisalanga, Andy formed The Storm, and Busi formed The Band Rain.
Coincidence or friends’ design? 🤔
In SA, Don played for many artistes. You can catch glimpses of him here with Jabu Khanyile
Don was a true genius, please.
After Ilanga, he kept delivering. Thokozile, Thank you Lord, We are going.
But this one. This one here, Joy, Love and Happiness is a work of art.
After Ilanga, he kept delivering. Thokozile, Thank you Lord, We are going.
But this one. This one here, Joy, Love and Happiness is a work of art.
Don fell ill in SA, returned to his mum’s home in Pumula where he passed on. Busi Ncube said: “I think he shouldn’t have gone to South Africa. I think he should have sat and thought about it. He was stubborn about going there but it didn’t turn out to be good for him”
Busi Ncube now stays in Norway and still performs. In November 2017, she released her ninth album.
One of her first post-Ilanga hits was this gem, about a party animal called Sthembeni.
One of her first post-Ilanga hits was this gem, about a party animal called Sthembeni.
Keith Farquarson is still in the business, a much sought after sound engineer and producer. A part of Freshly Ground, and done recent work for the likes of Jah Prayzah and many international artistes.
Can Ilanga ever be replicated? Unlikely. Farquarson says this: “You must also consider that the mid to late 80s was a really golden period for music in Zimbabwe. Conditions were right for many bands like Ilanga to thrive and earn decent money from record sales and shows.”
Another hero, Adam Chisvo, he was a percussionist for Ilanga, and played with Andy Brown, Chiwoniso Maraire, Victor Kunonga Tuku, Tanga wekwa Sando. He passed on in 2011.
Oh, and did you know Edwin Hama was backed by Ilanga on a lot of his music? Busi Ncube can be heard on the backing vocals
