adminBungan Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
GOSPEL musician Tatenda Mahachi is a man on a mission to spread local music through his collaboration with South Africa’s Sfiso Ncwane on track, Ndinoda Jesu/Ngiyamuthanda uJesu which is riding high on local airwaves.
The multi-award-winning Ncwane recently hogged the limelight after being accused by his mother Fikile of neglecting her, preferring to donate a R2 million car to a pastor, while her fridge was empty.
The famed Kulungile Baba hit-maker ended up filling his mother’s fridge after widespread media reports about her plea.
Ncwane’s collaboration with Mahachi has got the gospel fraternity buzzing. With eight weeks on the number one spot on Star FMs Star Gospel hit list, Ngiyamuthanda uJesu now has a music video which was released last week on video sharing site YouTube.
Relatively unknown to many in the Zimbabwean gospel music sphere, the talented Harare-based Mahachi caught the eye of Ncwane in Durban last year when the two were introduced by the latter’s designer Thembani Mubochwa.
“We met last year through Thembani and decided to do a track in Shona and Zulu so that my music appeals to a wider audience in Zimbabwe and South Africa,” said Mahachi.
Boasting of four albums under his belt, Muyedzo, Kure, Agare and Rega Kumhanya, Mahachi said he was pleased to have worked with Ncwane on the track.
“Working with Ncwane is a dream come true as I’m trying to use the collaboration as a platform to step into the international market. I’ve other collaborations with more gospel musicians from Nigeria and other African countries which I’ll unpack soon,” said Mahachi.
Though he was passionate about football, Mahachi’s mother and sister advised him to trade his boots for the microphone, a decision he made without hesitation. “Our family is talented musically as my mum plays the guitar while my sister sings for the Baptist Church choir in Karoi. They inspired me to join them and I gave in,” Mahachi said.
“After being established in the church choir, I joined a choir at school called Chikichi Boys which was very popular in Karoi. It was a gospel ensemble that sang at church, weddings and other functions from our high school days until in 2007,” said Mahachi.
In 2007, he decided to go solo at the age of 23, preferring to grow his brand.
“The turning point was when I went solo in 2007 when I released my first album Muyedzo which faired well on the local charts.” It took a collaboration with jazz artiste, Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana for Mahachi to be recognised in the industry which was dominated by the Charamba’s, Fungisai Mashavave, Shingisai Suluma, Ivy Kombo and Mahendere Brothers.
“My breakthrough was in 2013 when I released my third album Agare which featured jazz artiste Prudence Katomeni. That’s when I got attention from people. From there, I’ve been developing myself, growing from strength to strength,” said Mahachi.
Online Reporter