Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]
AWARD-WINNING United Kingdom-based Maskandi gospel artiste Mantongande has returned home to Zimbabwe on a spiritually charged tour that is already generating excitement among gospel music lovers, church communities, and fans of African worship music.
Born Simangenkosi Nkala and raised between Lupane and Bulawayo, Mantongande is in the country promoting her latest EP, Echoed Mercy, a six-track project carrying powerful messages of healing, redemption, gratitude, and restoration.
But beyond the music, her return has also reignited conversations around her compelling personal testimony — one shaped by ministry, grief, cancer survival, mental health advocacy, and an unwavering faith in God.
Known for her deeply spiritual Maskandi Mbhaqanga gospel sound and emotionally rich storytelling, Mantongande has, over the years, built a loyal following both in Zimbabwe and abroad.
Her music ministry has become synonymous with healing and encouragement for people navigating trauma, loss, emotional pain, and spiritual restoration.
Tracks such as Sibiziwe, Wongilonda, and Inhlanhla have resonated strongly with listeners seeking spiritual upliftment and emotional healing.
Speaking during her Zimbabwean tour, Mantongande described the EP as a deeply personal testimony of God’s mercy through seasons of pain, uncertainty, and recovery.
“This project is about gratitude to God. Every song carries a testimony. I wanted people to know that even when life wounds you, God’s mercy still echoes through every broken place. Healing is possible spiritually, emotionally, and physically,” she said.
Her current tour includes live performances, ministry sessions, interviews, and engagements aimed at encouraging communities through worship and testimony.
For Mantongande, music has never been about fame or financial gain alone — it is ministry first.
“My calling has always been bigger than entertainment. I believe music is one of the most powerful tools God can use to heal broken hearts. People come carrying burdens, grief, depression, trauma, and hopelessness. Through worship, some begin to breathe again,” she explained.
That ministry became especially evident during the release of her emotionally charged Healing Project album, a body of work rooted in testimony and spiritual restoration.
The album was launched at FOG Church in Bulawayo under heartbreaking circumstances following the death of one of her beloved team members, Eric Moyo, just four days after participating in the recording.
What began as a music project quickly evolved into a collective journey of mourning, perseverance, and healing.
“Losing Eric Moyo was devastating. He was part of the vision, part of the ministry, and part of the family. Recording while carrying grief was not easy, but God turned the pain into purpose. The Healing Project became more than an album — it became therapy, prayer, and testimony,” Mantongande reflected.
Away from the stage, Mantongande is also a qualified mental health specialist, a role she says has significantly shaped both her personal healing journey and her ministry to others.
Her work in mental health advocacy has enabled her to connect deeply with individuals struggling with emotional wounds, anxiety, trauma, and depression — challenges she believes are often hidden within African communities.
“A lot of people are silently suffering. In our communities, emotional pain is sometimes dismissed or misunderstood. My background in mental health has helped me understand how deeply people need safe spaces, compassion, prayer, and support,” she said.
The gospel singer’s testimony became even more profound after surviving cancer — a journey she now openly shares as part of her ministry and advocacy work.
Mantongande says the battle tested her faith, emotional strength, and resilience in unimaginable ways, but ultimately strengthened her relationship with God.
“There were moments of fear and uncertainty. But prayer sustained me. Worship sustained me. My family sustained me. God reminded me that purpose does not end because of pain,” she admitted.
Today, she continues to advocate for emotional wellness, cancer awareness, and spiritual resilience, encouraging people never to lose hope during difficult seasons.
Her story has inspired many Zimbabweans at home and in the diaspora, particularly women facing illness and emotional struggles.
Yet, long before the international recognition, tours, and ministry platforms, Mantongande’s journey began humbly in Lupane, where teachers first identified her musical gift during primary school.
Raised in a Christian family, she recalls refusing to participate in traditional dances at school and instead asking teachers if she could sing church songs.
“It was funny because I had no teeth then. But from that moment, people started recognising the gift,” she said.
She later attended Entumbane High School in Bulawayo and dreamed of becoming both a nurse and a singer.
Financial limitations, however, led her into employment as a saleslady at Power Sales instead of pursuing formal music or nursing studies.
Ironically, it was during those retail years that she constantly heard South African gospel legend Rebecca Malope playing in-store — music that unknowingly planted seeds for her future ministry.
Her life changed dramatically in 2000 when she relocated to the United Kingdom with her husband, Pastor Obert Nkala. The move came with loneliness, culture shock, and uncertainty, but church ministry soon reopened the door to music.
While serving in a Brethren in Christ church branch in London, Mantongande’s gift caught the attention of Zimbabwean businessman Million Songanga Moyo of Ngonyama Music Promotions, who encouraged her to record professionally.
Though hesitant at first, she eventually entered the studio to record her debut album, Behold the Lamb of God, in 2007. From there, her music ministry steadily grew. Her second album, Ngihamba Ngegunya, emerged after fans requested more isiNdebele and Zulu songs.
Mantongande has often described the songwriting process as spiritually inspired, revealing that one of the songs came to her in a dream after prayer.
Over the years, her music has found audiences among Zimbabweans in the UK, other African communities, and even British listeners drawn to her authentic African worship style.
Today, Mantongande’s artistry blends traditional African Maskandi and Mbhaqanga sounds with gospel ministry, creating a distinctive musical identity that transcends generations and cultures.
Beyond music and ministry, the mother of two also balances family life, academic pursuits, and agricultural interests — another passion she says keeps her grounded and connected to Zimbabwean values of self-sustenance and hard work.
“Farming teaches patience, discipline, and faith. You plant believing there will be harvest. That is also how life and ministry work,” she said with a smile.
Mantongande’s tour will also see her promoting Echoed Mercy in South Africa, and she says her ultimate mission remains unchanged: to minister healing and point people back to God.
“He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds,” she quoted from Psalm 147: 3. “And that is exactly what I pray my music continues to do.” — Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu
