African Spectacular Albert Nyathi & Imbongi continued Hull Jazz Festival 31st July By Michelle Dee

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Eventually only Nickson and Albert are left telling the story. Nickson embarks upon an impossible series of high kicks and jumps to the delight of the ever-growing crowd. His intentional looks towards the audience before each kick was most amusing and through this simple piece of stagecraft a very accessible humour was revealed.

I couldn't stop laughing and cheering especially after his last ridiculously high straddle jump with both legs above his head. It was hardly surprising he landed rather heavily on his behind but this was the perfect moment to inject more comedy into his role. A chance he readily took; he walked of stage with the sorriest expression on his face as if he had broken something. He was fine though and to prove it at the beginning of the next song he somersaulted back on to the stage, somehow managing to keep his headdress on all the while.

It was very hard not to relish the sight of their beautiful dark bodies with strong arms and well-muscled legs. Each one of the numbers lasted a good fifteen minutes, so this must have been a very physically demanding performance. At times the songs were sung in a slow more modern arrangement where a lead singer would be chosen, a simple refrain repeated, and then the lead would reply with another line then sing a solo verse. The whole process is repeated with different singers taking the lead so you get the chance to hear a lot of different voices. I very much liked Ramsey's voice he was able to make that kind of cavernous sound, as he held on to long notes.

Halfway through the performance Albert informed us that he went to Secondary School in Bulawayo. He studied English Literature there, The Merchant of Venice no less. His teacher who taught him in 1985 was a man called Stephen Walsh (apologies if I've used the incorrect spelling) by some amazing coincidence Stephen was sat in the front row. Albert told me afterwards that he looked exactly as he did when he was teaching in Bulawayo almost twenty years ago.

There lies the secret of Albert Nyathi's success he is charisma personified, he can cast a magic spell and whisk you of to a timeless place without boundaries, a place of music poetry and dance. All the while your journey is accompanied by strong pounding drums. The kind of guitars, that make me long to visit the beer gardens of Harare and drink cold clear Castle Lager under a cloudless sky.

To say they didn't have any political stories would be an untruth. A piece was sung in honour of Joshua Nkomo the father of Zimbabwean politics. This man was obviously an important figure in Albert's life. In 1999 he was asked to perform at the freedom fighter's graveside, which he did, remembering the red blood spilt in the war for independence.

The Eulogy to Joshua Nkomo and other poems can be found in Albert's anthology Echoes from the Kraal. Album releases include Kuze Kube Nini (For How Long) And the most recent Welcome to Zimbabwe IMBONGI Peter bass guitar Jonathon lead guitar Norman keyboard Adam drums Gary trumpet Pretty vocals/dancer Patty vocals/dancer Nickson vocals/dancer Ramsey vocals/dancer For more details visit www.equatorcompany.com And www.imbongi.com

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Photographs courtsey and Copyright © Jane Foster 2004

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