After Lovemore Majaivana, Busi Ncube, Solomon Skuza and Ndux Malax, Ndebele music has been in terminal decline. That appears to be changing, however, with fresh young artists entering the fray and seeking recognition.

One such artist is the UK-based Sukoluhle Ncube (stage name Oluhle), who has recorded two singles released to acclaim by two South African DJs. Her first, Fugama Unamate, was a collaboration with DJ Qness and was released last year. Last week, her latest single Zvinosiririsa – a collaboration with Mzee -- got worldwide release on the producer’s new double CD, Tamanini.

Later this month, Oluhle will be the supporting act for Oliver Mtukudzi and Malaika who perform at London’s Stratford Rex (INFO). And she travels to South Africa in January to record her first album, aiming to be potentially the biggest star to emerge from Matabeleland over the last decade.

I spent a few years doing rap music with a UK producer. I was known then as Easy D. But rap is a huge industry and the competition is massive, so my producer John Robinson suggested that I should consider singing instead and I went for vocal lessons. Initially I thought ‘no, I can’t do this’, but he was very persistent. I’m glad he succeeded.

Yes I do. It’s quite natural. I find the easiest way to write a song is to have the beat first, but I have a lot of other songs written without an instrumental which are going to be on my first album. Much of my ability at song-writing comes from my school days when I used to write scripts for the drama group, and most of those were inevitably musical.

Your latest single, Zvinosiririsa, talks of innocent children dying and rivers of blood. Is there a particular incident that inspired you to write those lyrics?

The song title wasn’t my idea. The producer Mzee has a Zimbabwean guitarist and I understand he’s the one who suggested it. When he passed the idea to me, I thought of the world in general, everyday on our TV screens there are children starving, people dying and you think: ‘That’s sad.’ The world is at war with itself, wherever you look.

Why do you think Ndebele music has been on a decline?

It’s a difficult question and I’m not sure if I can answer that adequately. The simple answer I guess is that no-one has come up that stands out. For sure there are a lot of talented Ndebele singers sitting on a lot of material out there and until it’s put out in the public domain, we’ll never get to hear that talent.

There is also the obvious fact that because of language, most Ndebeles listen to South African music. Whatever Ndebele artists produce has to be judged against what’s coming out of South Africa and I think it’s this competition that has scared off a lot of our artists.

The challenge now for Ndebele artists is to match the South Africans, or do better than them. We don’t have many good producers as well, so inevitably most of us must turn to South African producers which has the advantage of adding a South African flavour to the music while retaining a very Zimbabwean identity because you can distinguish between Zulu and Ndebele. That should be an advantage, shifting your music in both South Africa and Zimbabwe but it certainly has to be top quality.

There’s no use people complaining that Zimbabweans don’t support Ndebele music when what they are putting out there is not good enough. I’ve had my fair share of songs which I know were crap, and artists need to be self-critical and understand that if the music is good and relevant, people will appreciate it and if not, it will bomb. It’s a fact of life for all artists, young and old.

I was very popular (laughs)! I was in the entertainment committee [George Silundika Secondary School], responsible for organising movie nights, discos and modelling shows. If you have been to boarding school, you know what a vital service the entertainment committee provides and it’s a sure way to make friends.

I wanted to be doctor. I loved the idea of helping people and being in the hospital. I thought doctors did a wonderful job. Then in later years in school I wanted to be an actress. I developed a passion for writing plays for the drama group … and I wanted the wider public to see my scripts transformed into theatrical performances.

Promise ... Bulawayo-born singer Sukoluhle Ncube

I’ve got a lot of people who motivate me, particularly the young generation that are pioneering and developing new sounds. They are showing that it’s not about age but about talent.

Whenever I’m in low spirits, I also remember a guy I met in Leeds sometime in 2006. I was a supporting act to Malaika and went on stage first. Someone threw a bottle on stage demanding that Malaika come on instead. I was just starting then and I tearfully exited the stage, thoroughly disheartened. This guy came to me and said ‘don’t mind them, just concentrate on what you do’. I don’t know his name but I will never forget him, he said ‘in two years’ time, the same people will be paying attention to you.’ His words have been a great help in what is a very tough industry.

I know that it’s unpredictable. Today you are nothing, tomorrow you are something; and today you can be something and tomorrow be nothing.

My memory. I am very forgetful. Sometimes I tear my hair out trying to remember where I put my keys, phone and other little items.

You And I by Medina. I always listen to it when I’m stressed out, it brings my energy back. It makes me believe I can be stronger, I can overcome.