BY DITIRO MASUKU
It’s a song about the misfortunes of death. And he poured his heart out while singing it in church.
“It was supposed to be punishment,” teenager Andrea Sibanda (13) tells us.
But one of the church members was so moved, he took a video of the young vocalist, and soon it became a hit on the internet.
So much that DJ Maphorisa as well as Aubrey Qwana reached out to the talented Zimbabwean-born teenager for a collaboration.
And soon he was packing his bags, heading for South Africa to launch his musical career.
“I was told by my manager that we would be coming to South Africa a week before we came, so every day I was preparing myself.
“And when my dad showed me the tickets, I knew we were indeed going to South Africa,” says Andrea.
His dreams are becoming a reality faster than he’d imagined possible.
It was a trip he would never forget.
“The morning we were leaving, we woke up together as a family and prayed.
“We had already packed some stuff, so I bathed, and my mom made sure I was looking good for the trip.
“To be honest I was nervous. It was my first time to be in an airplane! So, I did not know what to expect.
“We went to the airport four hours before our flight, to make sure I do not miss this one. I just want to thank Zimbabwean businessman Mr Tinashe Mutarisi, who made this trip possible.”
He says it was his first time coming to South Africa.
“My first time flying, first time in South Africa, first time in Sandton. The roads from the airport were so amazing.
“The airport itself was very big, one can get lost in there. It was beautiful, seeing a lot of cars, on many lanes.
“I come from a small tourist town of Victoria Falls, so all these things were new to me.
“I stayed in Sandton, had every type of food I can imagine, but enjoyed my chicken more. I love chicken,” he says.
“Our hotel was so big and secure, we had three TVs there. I could have any drink I wanted. I went for dinner in Sandton.
“I used the Gautrain to go to Pretoria. I was so amazed by the speed of the train. I went to Mamelodi and ate kota.
“We shot my music video there. I went to Botanical Gardens where we shot video on day two.”
It wall all exciting.
“I also went into the tallest building in South Africa, where Maphorisa stays. It was amazing.
“”Maphorisa also asked what I wanted to eat and bought me a lot of it. I went shopping in Sandton.
“I also visited Nelson Mandela Foundation and Madiba’s former house, in Houghton Estate. I loved everything.”
He did not expect for things to have escalated this far. “When my video went viral on Tik Tok and Aubrey started looking for me, I heard about it.
“Then my manager, Mr Joe came told us I will go far. He also made me talk to Aubrey on video and Maphorisa on my birthday.
“When I recorded Uhambo, I was excited also because that was my first time in a studio,” a grateful Andrea shares.
Uhambo is a traditional gospel song he sang at his church 12 Apostolic.
“We call it Ndodana,” he says. “I sang the song as punishment at church, and someone took a video and posted it online.
“The story is about death and that we all pass through the graveyard, and it is a very difficult road/path.
“We will be telling God that it is a hard path.”
He had so much fun while shooting the video, and cannot wait for it to come out.
“Wow, the music video was shot by Makhadzi’s music videos director, Toolz. He was so professional and friendly.
“He was patient with me which made it easy and enjoyable.
“I enjoyed every part of the process, except for the waterfalls scene where water falls on me, you will see when the video is out.”
He says if he is not singing, he is playing soccer with his friends. And dealing with newfound fame?
“When I am at home, I am just a child, I play soccer with others and everything I have always been doing.
“When I am at school am just a student, am not famous. I am in form 1 [grade 8]”
He is working on new music. “I have new music. Very exciting. I worked with DJ Maphorisa in the studio, and we recorded three songs.
“I also worked with Bothlale from Idols SA 2017; we recorded a very beautiful song called Amanxeba.
“I also worked on another song with Juizee and Dobby4040. I must say I have very beautiful music coming! I cannot wait to share it with my supporters.”- News24