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Jonathan Mbiriyamveka Entertainment Reporter
Gospel couple Charlenam made up of husband Charles Chipanga and wife Namatayi is set to stage a once-off show tomorrow at the Zimbabwe German Society in Milton Park starting at 4pm until 8pm. Running under the banner “an evening of music and braai”, the show will see lovers being treated to a bit of marimba and soulful voice of Namatayi.
The two, who sing gospel, are still basking in the glory of their latest album simply titled “Grace Moments”.
With Charles on marimba and Namatayi lacing the vocals, those who will turn up for the show will be in for a big surprise as the couple goes down memory lane playing some of their early hits.
“The evening will see Namatayi and myself playing sweet music for the mature listeners. The environment is cozy and pretty much relaxed so we urge music lovers to come and enjoy themselves without being pushed or shoved.
“There is also plenty of meat to braai we know music and food go together so the show is meant to bring people together,” Charles said. According to Charles, a sought-after marimba player, the name Charlenam is a combination of their first names.
“Charles means a principled, strong and manly person while Namatayi is a Shona word for prayer. So when we came up with the name Charlenam it wasn’t by coincidence in fact, it was prophetic and God’s union.
“We believe we are unique in our own way because we are at the forefront of fusing traditional and modern instruments to bring out a sound that is truly Zimbabwean.”
But for people who share life on and off the stage, their new album “Grace Moments” is filled with soulful rhythms and hard to ignore beats.
While on the first album Chipanga led in vocals, the second album is all about Namatayi and man oh man she knows how to sing.
“Grace Moments” features 10 tracks which are all about the grace of God. For those who have been to the Tabernacle of Grace where the couple fellowships, it is little wonder why they sing the way they do.
On the album they feature a Congelese national by the name Ekanga on two tracks “Jehovah”, a song with an Afro-fusion feel as well as on “Vabereka”.
On “Zvangu Zvaita” there is a medley of sounds including calypso, soukous and a bit of Brazilian influence.
Not only is she an exceptional vocalist, who started singing in church as a 10-year-old, but Namatayi is one of the sought-after percussionists in gospel.
Since 2002, Namatayi has been singing with other groups among them Tanga weKwaSando, Africa Revenge, Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana, Mahube and Steve Dyer to mention just a few.
Her most memorable period of her singing career was when she was part of superstar Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi from 2003-2011.Known for her performances on stage alongside Mtukudzi, her perfection in making music was no doubt the result of several years of hard work.
Online Reporter