Walter Nkuna releases own full-length album

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“I suckled from the sungura breast from as early on in my life as I can remember. I was exposed to good music by excellent guitarists and vocalists whose music kept me dancing day and night.”

These are the words of a highly talented musician from Mpheni village, Walter Nkuna, who has been mesmerising music lovers with great bands such as Malume Shinabya and Shitlamu Boys, Tshifhiwa Rabambukwa, and the mighty Tshigomboza and Khakhathi Band, as guitarist and drummer.

Now, he has released his own full-length album under the name Walter Nkuna and Udozadoza Express, Tshifhiwa Tshanga (My Gift).

“I feel so robust as an artist whose talent is flourishing and spreading to different corners of the country,” he said. “This is my first album and I am excited and overjoyed that I had worked this hard on it, so that those who love sungura music could have an experience of a new singer whose quality music speaks volumes.”

Walter's album comprises five songs that do not disappoint. The songs are Tshifhiwa tshanga, Tshilani zwanu, Tsho fhela tshifhinga, A vha dzhenelele, and O tou tshivhiwa. “I play guitar like nobody's business, and I find solace and courage from my guitar,” he said. “Sometimes I laugh alone and give glory to God when I think that I had started out as a dancer for many great names in the sungura music.”

He said that he was first taught the basics of playing drums and guitar by the sungura maestro, Malume Shinabya, who shook South Africa to its foundations with his debut live-recorded album in 2010, Maanda a Mudzimu (Vuvuzela). “My role model in the music industry is Tongai Moyo, a Zimbabwean sungura musician,” he said.

Walter Nkuna and Udozadoza Express are here to stay and, for those interested in his music, he can be reached on 066 467 8743. He is also available on Facebook.

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.