Sylent Nqo
Sylent Nqo | |
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Born | Silent Nhendere June 30, 1994 |
Education | Churchill Boys High |
Occupation |
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Website | youtube |
Sylent Nqo is a Zimbabwean guitarist. He has worked with renowned local artists such as the late Chiwoniso Maraire, Plaxedes Wenyika, Mokoomba, Diana Samkange, Audius Mtawarira, Davido and Enzo Ishall. He made headlines when he made it into the finals of the 2016 edition of the World Championships of Performing Arts in Hollywood, USA.
His most popular tracks include Mubvunzo and Ndomuridzira Gitare.
Background
Sylent Nqo was born Silent Nhendere on 30 June 1994.[1]
Education
He spent the greater part of his childhood in South Africa where he acquired his primary education before he returned to Zimbabwe and attended Churchill Boys High for his high school.[2]
Career
In an interview with the Sunday Mail Sylent Nqo said that he had his first professional gig when he was 16 with the band Jazz Invitation as a percussionist and then later started to session as a guitarist with Diana Samukange, Plaxedes Wenyika, Cindy Munyavi and many other artistes. At some point, he would do free shows just to get exposure. He has also performed at the 2014 edition of the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) where he had his first solo act performing at the Battle of Guitarists show. Sylent has toured Mozambique, South Africa and Egypt among others and was part of UMOJA CFC for two years. He has also worked with talented guitarists from other countries including Andrea Valerie (Italy), Maneli Jamal (Canada), Will Mcnicoll (UK) and Tcheka Andrade (Cape Verde). He has his own band.[2]
Nqo has has that Oliver Mtukudzi, Victor Kunonga and Mokoomba as some of his favourite musicians in Zimbabwe. In 2018 he has said his dream was to set up a music school and recording label.[3]
Videos
Ndomuridzira Gitare lyrics video
Mubvunzo
Sylent Nqo live at Hugh Masekela Concert
Sylent Nqo Demo 2016
Sylent Nqo at band practice
Sylent Nqo, Andrea Valeri and Maneli Jamal - HIFA 2014
World Championships of Performing Arts
Sylent Nqo saw an advert for auditions on Facebook from Zimbabwe Championships of Performing Arts (ZICOPA), which is responsible for selecting contestants for the world competition, he decided to participate and ended up making the cut.
Nqo explained in an interview how he made it into the Zimbabwean team that participated in the 2016 edition of the World Championships of Performing Arts
“I saw an advert on Facebook and I went for a meeting with the guys, did an online audition and I was selected to represent Zimbabwe at WCOPA in the Open Instruments category where I will be showcasing what I can do with the guitar."
He was also selected to be the Team captain. Sylent Nqo qualified for the finals in the senior instrumentalists category.[4] Nqo scooped the Senior Grand Champion of the World Instrumentalists division gold medal plus another gold for original works and silver in his division at the finals.[5]
References
- ↑ About Sylent Sy Nqonqo, Facebook, published: No Date Given, retrieved: July 15, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Andrew Moyo, Sylent Nqo goes to Hollywood, Sunday Mail, published: June 5, 2016, retrieved: July 15, 2016
- ↑ Sylent Nqo: A bittersweet journey, NewsDay, Published: 11 Sep 2018, Accessed: 03 Oct 2019
- ↑ Ruth Chomola, Two Zimbabweans make it to the World Championships of Performing Arts finals, Radio Dialogue, published: July 14, 2016, retrieved: July 15, 2016
- ↑ Zandile Ndlovu Post, Facebook, published: July 17, 2016, retrieved: July 18, 2016