TZANEEN: Youngster living out his life in music

Talent may be hard to spot when it’s not embraced at an early stage, but that’s not the case for 16-year-old, Nhlamulo Mabunda.

Mabunda, a young boy from Pharare village, outside Tzaneen, says that he started playing the piano when he was only 10 years old.

He grew up in a family of musicians and his parents would always buy him toy pianos to play around with and that’s where his passion grew from.

Mabunda says that his father, Callman Mabunda, owned a piano and would always play it when he had nothing to do, or simply after a long day.

He told the LETABA HERALD that he taught himself to play the keys when his father was not around and because he grew up in a Christian family, going to church gave him an opportunity to polish and grow his piano playing skills.

“I started playing for the Power of Faith Deliverance Ministries church in 2013, under the guidance and mentorship of Steven Mthombeni, who helped me polish my skills and grow deeper in love with playing the paino,” said Mabunda.

He says that although he is still young and only in Grade 9, he finds joy in the fact that he is following in his fathers’ footsteps musically and that his father couldn’t be happier that he has such a love for playing the piano.

“My entire family understands that I have a love for what I do and they support me. Once I am done with my secondary schooling, I would like to study music in tertiary,” exclaimed young Mabunda.

He also told the HERALD that he has big aspirations for his future, where he would love to make it as big as playing not only in neighbouring countries, but overseas too.

“I believe in myself and I believe in the talent I have.

“I know I am good because I can even play a song on the piano from just hearing the piano keys from that particular song,” exclaimed Mabunda.

Steven Mthombeni, who is 24 years old, says he first heard Mabunda playing in the church at a practice session they were having.

“We practice for two hours at the church and we normally play at church functions and concerts Youngster living out his life in music around Tzaneen,” said Mthombeni.

He further stated that Nhlamulo has been playing for the church band formally for the past four years now.

When asked if they played any other genre of music, Mthombeni and Mabunda both said they do, but they prefer sticking to gospel music as they found their love for music and a platform to fully express it at the church.

Mabunda went on to say that other than the piano, he started learning how to play the bass guitar and drums in 2015 and he enjoys it just as much as he enjoys playing the piano because music simply makes him happy.

“Music is a very big part of me and I feel like I am nothing without it,” said Mabunda.