MA9NINE’S BIG NDEBELE!

** Mthokozisi Ncube**

BULAWAYO-BASED Zimdancehall chanter Ma9Nine is turning up the heat with his debut album

Big Ndebele, and if the early fan reaction is anything to go by, the lyrical maestro has come to make Zimbabwe dance!

Known for flowing flawlessly with compound and engaging rhymes in IsiNdebele, the consummate Zimdancehall artiste is now looking to take the project to audiences across Zimbabwe and beyond.

Mesmerising on the mic like Messi on a football field, the lyrical maestro’s 10-track album was released in Bulawayo at his own Wazin Family Studios in Magwegwe North, marking a major milestone for the accomplished story-teller, who started singing as a child.

Born on 9 September, the ninth day of the ninth month, Ndlovu turned the recurring number into his iconic identity Ma9Nine.

He said the number nine was simply too good to leave behind!

Born Hansel Ndlovu the 33-year-old Ma9Nine said music had always been part of his life, but his breakthrough came in 2020 when he released his hit song Uwindi Womtshova, which helped establish him as a prominent voice in Ndebele Zimdancehall.

For Ma9Nine, rhyming is more than simply a musical technique — it is part of his everyday life.

He said he naturally finds himself rhyming even when he is speaking, something which has become an important part of his artistic identity.

“Rhyming is my life. Even when I speak, I rhyme,” he said.

The artiste said he was grateful for the reception his debut album had received so far, describing the response from fans as encouraging.

“I really appreciate the love that people are showing me and the way they are responding to the album. It means a lot to me because this is my first album and I put my heart into it,” he said.

Ma9Nine is also planning to give each song on Big Ndebele a visual treatment, promising fans a video for every track.

He said the videos would allow listeners to experience the different stories and emotions contained in the album.

The album is already available on major music-listening platforms, while Ma9Nine is also sharing the project and its visuals on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook.

The album features only one guest artiste, Uncle Slim, who appears on Dai Ukafa.

The complete tracklist is: Amagetsi — an introductory tribute to the late Zimdancehall star Soul Jah

Love, Dem Dead, Everything Nice, Jericho, Cresenzisa, Malume, Morning Class, Wonku Muntue

Mayela, Kholeka and Dai Ukafa featuring Uncle Slim.

While Ma9Nine is open about his music, he prefers to keep some aspects of his personal life away from the public eye.

The musician said he chooses to keep his marital status private, preferring to let his music and performances speak for him.

“I like to keep my marital status private. I just want to keep people dancing,” he said.

The release of Big Ndebele comes as Ma9Nine prepares to take his music on the road. He is expected to embark on a local tour around Zimbabwe next week, although the areas, venues and dates are yet to be confirmed.

He is also planning a Dubai tour, which will give him an opportunity to connect with Zimbabweans and other music lovers outside the country.

Ma9Nine’s ambitions extend beyond his established Ndebele-speaking audience. While his music remains deeply rooted in Ndebele culture and the sound that helped build his name, he is increasingly presenting himself as an artiste capable of communicating with and reaching a broader, English-speaking audience.

His journey into music began during childhood, but it was Uwindi Womtshova in 2020 that gave him his major breakthrough.

Since then, he has continued developing his distinctive style, with his ability to rhyme spontaneously becoming one of the defining characteristics of his music.

His career has also included collaborations with artistes from different parts of Zimbabwe, including Enzo Ishall, helping him reach audiences outside Bulawayo.

Now, with his first album finally out, Ma9Nine is hoping Big Ndebele will take him even further.

For an artiste who describes rhyming as a way of life, the next chapter appears to be about turning those rhymes into a national and international movement — one dance at a time.