Online Reporter
Langalihle Mhiti
Zimpapers Entertainment Hub
ZIMBABWE’S awards season has become a familiar parade of trophies, spotlights and red carpets, celebrating excellence from music to film and the creative industries.
Yet amid this crowded calendar, gospel music — one of the country’s most consumed and culturally influential genres — has often struggled to stand firmly on its own.
Frequently absorbed into broader platforms, it has rarely enjoyed a dedicated space that fully reflects its spiritual depth, artistic labour and industry impact. That gap is now being deliberately and boldly addressed.
In a decisive move that signals both faith and foresight, a new platform has been conceived to focus gospel music.
The Shekinah Gospel Awards Zimbabwe emerge at a time when many have accepted limited recognition for the genre.
Instead of waiting for inclusion, the initiative chooses creation — brewing an awards ceremony that places gospel music at the heart of the conversation.
“This is about restoring honour to gospel music,” says founder and visionary Macdonald Chidavaenzi. “Gospel has always carried the nation spiritually, but it hasn’t always been given a platform that matches its contribution. We are saying it deserves its own space, its own standards and its own celebration.”
The awards will be officially launched in March, marking the beginning of a structured journey towards a glamorous ceremony scheduled for the end of October.
Organisers promise a production that blends reverence with excellence, faith with finesse — complete with red carpet moments, live performances and industry-level recognition.
While some may question the need for another gospel awards platform, Chidavaenzi firmly rejects the notion that one excludes the other.
“The global entertainment industry teaches us that excellence thrives in diversity,” he explains.
“We have the Oscars and Golden Globes in film, the Grammys, BETs and AMAs in music. These platforms co-exist and strengthen the industry.
Gospel music should not be limited to one voice or one stage.”
He adds that multiple platforms create healthy competition and growth. “More awards mean more opportunity for artistes, more visibility for different sounds and ministries, and higher standards overall.
One platform cannot carry the whole industry.”
Chidavaenzi’s confidence is rooted in experience. A respected music producer, he has worked extensively with gospel musicians over the years, shaping sound, mentoring talent and understanding the genre from its foundations to its public reception.
His journey in gospel music leadership reached a defining moment when he founded the Zimpraise Choir, a project that began locally and grew into a globally recognised gospel brand. “Zimpraise was born from a simple idea and a lot of faith,” he recalls. “Although I am no longer part of the movement, I am happy with how our vision came to pass back then. People doubted that a Zimbabwean choir could break borders, but today it ministers on international stages. That journey taught me that when vision is clear and excellence is pursued, the gospel can compete anywhere in the world.”
Now a global outfit, Zimpraise stands as proof of Chidavaenzi’s ability to build sustainable gospel institutions — an experience he believes uniquely positions him to lead the Shekinah Gospel Awards Zimbabwe.
“I understand the sacrifices gospel artistes make,” he says.
“Many serve faithfully with limited resources, yet their work changes lives. These awards are about acknowledging that labour, that calling, and that excellence.”
Beyond trophies and applause, the Shekinah Gospel Awards Zimbabwe aim to reshape how gospel music is valued —as ministry, as art and as an industry. The platform seeks to inspire upcoming artistes to pursue quality, professionalism and purpose, while reminding established names that their work continues to matter. “This is bigger than one night,” Chidavaenzi concludes. “It’s about building a legacy for gospel music in Zimbabwe — a space where faith and creativity meet, and where excellence is celebrated without compromise.”
As the countdown to the March launch begins, the Shekinah Gospel Awards Zimbabwe are already positioning themselves as more than just another awards ceremony.
They represent a long-awaited sacred stage — one where gospel music finally stands in its own light. Asked if he will stand out giving monetary value to the awards, Chidavaenzi said it is work in progress.
