God raised him

eight-track album released late last year titled “Great and Might”, said his music reflects the blessing of God in his life which he showed by shaping his life which lacked direction and made him a God-fearing Christian with a promising future.
Born 30 years ago Dumisani whose rural home is Murehwa and who currently lives in Mbare’s Matapi Flats said he has never known his father while his mother failed to give him her motherly love, care and support when he was still an infant due to her work commitments.
He said his mother was a soldier who worked in Bindura and she died in 1993 when he was in Grade Three.
Narrating his childhood years, Dumisani said his mother only cared for him for only two weeks after his birth before going back to her work.
He said his mother occasionally left him hidden under a makeshift table that was used by his grandmother for her vending business at Mbare Musika each time she went to Bindura.
He added that his grandmother who lived in Mbare would find him lying under her vending table and took over responsibility of caring and supporting him while still a baby.
Since his grandmother could not afford to send him to school, she took him to Matthew Rusike Children’s Home where he did both his primary and secondary education.
Narrating his life at the children’s home, Dumisani said, he occasionally felt caged and had a desire to explore the outside world.
He said, at one point in his life while still at the children’s home, he ran away to live in the streets.
“I remember running away from the children’s home to live in the streets for about a year. That was in 1996 when I was in Grade Six. In the streets, I ate from the rubbish bins and abused alcohol,” Dumisani said.
He said life in the streets had been very difficult than it was at the children’s home due to lack of proper food, shelter and sometimes losing his money to street bullies who would beat him first before stealing his money and food.
After returning to the children’s home a year later to do his Grade Seven in 1997 he was allowed to join the institution’s marimba band and this helped him to discover his musical talent.
As a member of the marimba band of Matthew Rusike Children’s Home, he said his band often toured different places where they performed music and received payment for their work.
Upon completion of his secondary education, Dumisani said he was advised to do a course in landscaping to help him support himself since his Ordinary Level results were poor..
After his release from the children’s home in 2001 Dumisani said he was able to reconnect with his grandmother although he still hasn’t met his father.
After getting baptised in 2001 in the Methodist Church, the turning point in his music career came when his friends at church appreciated his vocal talent and each time advised him to record an album.
“I was baptised in August 2001. It was at that time that I discovered my talent in music when I sang on numerous times in church,” said Dumisani.
He said his career in music received a major boost following help he received from a fellow church mate Rutendo Precious who offered him monetary support if he wished to record an album.
Other people who supported him on his album include McDonald Chidavaenzi, who invited him to join his ZimPraise Choir, and Olinda Marowa, who offered to feature on his album.
Dumisani said recording an album for the first time was difficult due to cash challenges coupled with lack of exposure in the music industry.
After releasing his album, Dumisani said he performs at his current church, His Presence Ministries, and in other churches and crusades where he receives invitations to perform his music.
Apart from being a gospel musician, Dumisani — who is still single — said he is also a teacher of music at Nyatsime College of Music in Chitungwiza.
Currently he holds a certificate in music which he acquired at the Zimbabwe College of Music and said he plans to take his education to degree level.
He also said he dreams of establishing a music college and a music recording studio which will do both video and audio music productions to help aspiring musicians find everything they need relating music studies and recording music, all under one roof.