Somandla ndebele biography channel

By Blessing Masakadza

They call him ‘Mafia’, a name derived from an organised body of criminals operating originally in Sicily and now especially in Italy and the United one is left wondering why veteran ‘sungura’ musician Somandla Ndebele ended up with such a nickname after getting to know him better.

Soma, as some among his legion of fans would also prefer calling him, is not moved by it.

If anything, he is quite forthcoming to share his story.

He says after he was born without his other arm, some among his childhood friends wanted to take advantage of his disability by bullying him.

As a coping mechanism, he found ways of changing the narrative and it did the trick.

Whenever it got physical, he would overpower his opponents resulting in him earning the nickname Mafia.

“I just had this strength and I thank God for that, even up to now I just have the power,” he said.

Born in in Kwekwe, Soma went to school in Dzi