adminNoel Munzabwa in Piggs Peak, Swaziland
AT a time when the gospel scene is flooded with boring and repetitive music, South African pastor-cum-gospel artiste Donny Ngwenyama believes that infusing secular tunes into gospel songs will bring a refreshing sound.Addressing congregants on the closing day of the Jesus Calls Worship conference in Swaziland earlier in the week, Ngwenyama, famed for his Basheshe Bahleka song, gave several examples of secular renditions which he turned into gospel music with ease.
“Our songs have been lost and it’s time we recover them and bring them back to church for our praise teams to use them in church.
“We are shy to sing some of the songs entertaining people in night clubs and other entertainment arenas. When people enjoy those songs in the bars they fight, but we can equally use the same songs to get people filled by the spirit during worship and praise,” said Ngwenyama.
He had the house up when he turned the popular Angina mahloni ngawe to Bhayibheli lami angila mahloni ngawe and Ringo’s love ballad Kum’na kum’ to Jesu uyohlala uhlele engqondweni yami uyinto yonke.
In Zimbabwe, churches such as Prophetic Healing Deliverance ministries through their Yadah Voices choir have already started infusing gospel songs with popular Zimdancehall tunes.
The dancehall tentacles seem to have spread to every part of the country’s popular culture with gospel music artistes including Mechanic Manyeruke and Tinashe Magacha joining the bandwagon.
Born in Malekutu in White River, near Nelspruit, Ngwenyama is one of the top-selling gospel musicians in South Africa.
He developed his passion for gospel music at an early age, healing and blessing people’s souls at funerals and functions around his community with his bold and deep voice.
He sang for groups such as Malekutu Voices before founding Donny and Heavenly Heirs.
Online Reporter