Tafadzwa Zimoyo-Zimpapers Entertainment Editor
GOSPEL music powerhouse Michael Mahendere returns to Canada this week, but this time with a new proposition, “Messiah”, his worship concert brand that makes its Canadian debut following his successful appearance in the country earlier this year as part of The Grateful Experience.
Mahendere is set to take Messiah to Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver, returning to a market that already gave him a warm reception when he shared the stage with fellow Zimbabwean gospel musicians during The Grateful Experience.
The Canadian dates mark the first time the Messiah concept is being staged in the country, adding another chapter to Mahendere’s growing international gospel ministry.
For Mahendere, the return is both exciting and demanding, particularly because he is coming back to an audience that has already experienced his music.
“We are very excited about Canada because this is a new chapter for Messiah. We have been there before with The Grateful Experience, but this is the first time we are taking Messiah there,” Mahendere said.
“That means there is a different responsibility. People have already seen us and experienced what we can do, so we have to come back better prepared and give them something memorable.” Mahendere said preparations had been intense, with the team focusing on the musical arrangements, rehearsals and the overall worship experience.
“We have been preparing both musically and spiritually. Messiah is not just a concert where people come and watch an artiste perform. It is a worship experience,” he said.
“We want people to sing, worship, reflect, and leave encouraged. So the preparation goes beyond rehearsing songs. We have to prepare ourselves for the people we are going to minister to.”
The Messiah concept is built around Mahendere’s passion for worship and his extensive catalogue, which has seen him establish himself as one of Zimbabwe’s leading contemporary gospel musicians.
His career stretches back to the Mahendere Brothers before he established his solo identity and Direct Worship ministry, with projects including “Getting Personal With God,” Classical Worship and a catalogue featuring songs such as “Mumoyo,” “Salt of the Earth,” “Chiiko” and “Zvaringana.”
The Canadian return follows the positive reception of The Grateful Experience, which brought Mahendere together with fellow Zimbabwean gospel voices including Eleana Makombe, Shingisai Suluma, Sharon Cherayi and Ellard Cherayi.
For the artistes, those performances demonstrated the strength of the Zimbabwean gospel audience in the diaspora and the emotional connection created when musicians take their music abroad.
Mahendere said that experience had also influenced his decision to return with Messiah.
“The response we received was very encouraging. You could see that people were not simply coming for entertainment. They wanted to connect with the music and with home,” he said.
“That experience gave us confidence that there is a market for Zimbabwean gospel outside Zimbabwe, but it also reminded us that we have to be professional.”
Makombe, who is involved in the Canadian shows, said expectations were high following the response to the previous performances.
“We are looking forward to another powerful experience in Canada,” Makombe said.
“The Grateful Experience showed us just how much Zimbabweans and other African communities appreciate gospel music from home. The response was beautiful, and we are expecting Messiah to build on that.”
She said Mahendere’s established catalogue and live worship approach would give the Canadian audience something different.
“People are expecting to worship, to sing along and to experience the music live. We are excited because Messiah is a different presentation, and Michael has been preparing for this,” she said.
“We are also hoping to reach beyond the Zimbabwean community. Gospel music has the ability to cross cultures, and that is something we want to see happening.”
Mahendere is equally optimistic about the direction of the gospel music industry, saying he is encouraged by the growing professionalism among Zimbabwean musicians.
“I am happy with what I am seeing in the gospel industry. There is a lot of talent, and musicians are beginning to understand that talent alone is not enough,” he said.
“People are becoming more serious about their brands, their sound, their live performances, and the business side of music. That is very encouraging.”
He believes the next phase for Zimbabwean gospel is international expansion.
“We have always had the talent. What we need is to package it properly and take it to the world,” he said.
“Gospel musicians must understand that we are also in an industry. We have to invest in production, musicians, marketing and our audiences. We cannot remain comfortable simply because we have a good message.”
Mahendere is particularly pleased by the emergence of younger gospel musicians who are experimenting with contemporary sounds while retaining the message of faith.
“I love seeing the young generation coming through. They are bringing fresh ideas and different sounds,” he said.
“We should encourage them. The sound can change, but the message can remain powerful. We should not be afraid of innovation.”
With previous international editions and collaborations helping to build confidence, Mahendere believes Messiah can now become a stronger international worship brand.
“Every experience teaches us something. The Grateful Experience taught us a lot about the Canadian audience, and now we are taking Messiah there with that knowledge,” he said.
“We are grateful for the opportunity. We are prepared, we are excited, and we are looking forward to meeting the people of Canada.”
For Mahendere, then, this is not simply a return to Canada. It is a return with a new sound, a new worship experience and a bigger ambition — to demonstrate that Zimbabwean gospel can travel, connect and compete on the international stage.
