By Fidelis Manyange

UZUMBA Maramba Pfungwe, the famous UMP is a district in Mashonaland East full of talented artistes.
Through music, dance and visual arts, the people of UMP have produced sons and daughters whose artistic works have put the district on the world map.
But it is interesting to note that there are some mischievous people who say UMP is an acronym for Uzumba Maramba Pfungwa.
Not to be outdone, the ‘racial’ Wikipedia describes UMP as; “A very rural and underdeveloped area, populated by peasant farmers who depend on subsistence farming with high poverty level.”
But how true is all this about UMP?
This is the area where renowned drummer Douglas Vambe whose beat was declared ‘World Heritage material’ by United Nations for five decades was born and bred.
His Mbende-Jerusarema beat has become the news bulletin signature tune on all ZBC stations.
The drumbeat was recorded at the then Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation in Mbare in 1962.
Vambe through his self-taught drum beating skills became number 43 out of 153 in the UNESCO Music Heritage competition in 2007.
He performed at the Birmingham International Arts Festival in May 2008.
At the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010, he rubbed shoulders with international artistes including R Kelly and Colombian diva Shakira.
Born in Magunje Village near Chitimbe, a Standard Three dropout from Nyamashato and Rukunguhwe primary schools, he has managed to show the world that discovering one’s talent and exploiting it to the fullest can take one to greater heights.
In recognition of his efforts, the Government honoured him with a 100-hectare farm and an all terrain vehicle.
Vambe has even declared his Marondera home an ‘arts centre’ to impart Mbende-Jerusarema skills to the youths.
Prominent Mbende groups such as former Chibuku Neshamwari winners Ngoma Dzepasi passed through his hands.
Still in UMP across Nyaitenga River, a few kilometres from Magunje where Vambe resides is Mashambanhaka where the man of the moment, Mukudzei Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah hails from.
Educated at Musanhi Primary School, he has become a formidable force in the music industry and overshadowed prominent musicians who have been in the industry for years.
He has used his childhood Jit and mbira-playing skills to come up with music which has a strong appeal in Zimbabwe and abroad.
Companies and advertisers are clamouring for his image, while promoters can’t get enough of him.
This son of UMP has collaborated with international reggae artistes such as Luciano and Botswana diva Charma Girl.
In the same Mashambanhaka area is where one of the finest actors who graced our local television station in the soap Studio 263 was born and bred.
The late Nevernay Chinyanga, popularly known as ‘Muwengwa’ acted in the soap as the husband of ‘Sphilisiwe’, the late Pretty Xaba.
He also ventured into music and like Jah Prayzah, showcased his Jit skills in his video ‘Matinetsa’ from his album Mhashu Yemurwere.
Most people don’t know that ‘Muwengwa’ was a former Divinity teacher and a former member of the Zimbabwe National Army.
Such is the nature of the people of UMP, talented yet they do not blow their own trumpet, just like the writer of this piece.