Online Reporter
Fungai Lupande
Mashonaland Central Bureau
WE have Jah Prayzah. We have Jah Signal. Now we have Jah Lady.
She has a powerful voice that stops people in their tracks the moment she starts to sing.
Farlon Munetsi is slowly turning into one of Mashonaland Central’s most sought-after performers.
Popularly known as Jah Lady, the Bindura-based singer has become a household name, gracing parties, baby showers and national platforms.
Born on November 12, 1988, in Mvurwi, Jah Lady is the last born in a family of six.
Her family later relocated to Bindura, where her journey into music began at a tender age.
She attended SOS Kindergarten before enrolling at Hermann Gmeiner Primary and Secondary School.
By the age of five, she was already singing and performing in church, a gift that would later define her life.
Her passion was nurtured by gospel power couple Charles and Olivia Charamba of the Fishers of Men band.
“Whenever Baba and Amai Charamba came to Shamva or Bindura to perform, I would sneak out from home to attend their shows,” she recalls.
“I made sure I stood at the front so they could notice me.”
Her persistence paid off.
After completing her O-Level studies, Jah Lady tracked down the Charambas and found out that they attended the same church.
In 2008, she officially joined Fishers of Men as a backing vocalist, even staying with the Charamba family at their Gunhill residence.
“They treated me like their own daughter,” she said.
During her time with the group, she contributed to projects including the album ‘Mutsvene Mutsvene’ and witnessed the release of hit songs such as ‘Tenga Mafuta’ and ‘Wamunoda Aurayiwe.’
Despite her rising musical profile, Jah Lady made a difficult decision in 2010 to pursue education, enrolling at Dynamis Management Consultancy College where she trained as a chef in culinary arts, food and beverages.
Balancing music and academics proved challenging, forcing her to step away from the Fishers of Men.
Her journey thereafter was far from smooth.
She had brief stints with the likes of Fungisai Zvakavapano and Mathias Mhere, as well as performances with Zimpraise, before stepping into the corporate world.
Jah Lady joined Bakers Inn as a merchandiser, rising through the ranks until 2018 when she was retrenched following management changes.
She later worked for OK Zimbabwe before leaving to refocus her life.
Her personal life also brought challenges, including two divorces, experiences she says shaped her resilience.
“Divorce is not the end of the world. Marriages are by grace,” she said.
A turning point came when she met dancehall artist Flame B, leading to collaborations such as Too Blessed, and later joining Black Site Band in 2022, as a lead vocalist.
Her breakthrough moment arrived in 2023 when the group competed in the Chibuku Road to Fame, finishing second and walking away with US$10,000.
The exposure catapulted her into the national spotlight.
Since then, Jah Lady has continued to grow her brand, releasing hit tracks including ‘Jah Jah Jah’ and the Amapiano-inspired Ndinokuda, while also working with women’s music initiatives such as Divas in Action.
“This is the first time I am launching a solo career and I am happy to stand on my own,” she said.
“The future looks bright.”
Beyond music, she runs a transport business and remains grounded in her values as a single mother.
“I urge women to work hard and be exemplary to their children. Being a single mother is not an excuse to lose direction,” she said.
With a versatile voice that can move seamlessly from gospel to dancehall and Amapiano, Jah Lady says she is ready for any stage, from church services to celebrations and even funerals.
Mathew Masinge