adminThe 40-member choir from Harare composes gospel songs powerful enough to move believers and non-believers. They travel across the country performing in different churches.
The choir’s music director, Albert Mtengwa (23) from Fountain of Life Church, said he believed that churches would buy into their approach.
“As a group, we came up with praise and worship songs that we are hoping will be adapted in churches across the country. It is not that we are tired of the old songs but we want to engage people a lot more through songs that have a new feel. The message of praise and worship of the Almighty remains the same,” he said.
Mtengwa said the one-year-old choir also alters traditional hymns by adding instruments or changing the tunes in an effort to give them a fresh appeal. They incorporate different music genres.
“We have so far recorded an eight-track album that will be officially launched on a DVD on July 27. There will be a live recording of the performance by Purple Pride Family and people will be admitted free of charge at Courteney Selous School in Greendale. Our diverse backgrounds enable us to compose songs that appeal to people of different ages” he said.
Mtengwa highlighted the challenges that the choir faces citing resistance by “diehards” in some churches as the biggest of them.
“One of the challenges we face is penetrating other churches from rejection by members. There are people who are against our approach and argue that instruments are inappropriate as they are used in non-gospel songs. But as Christian choir, we derive our path from the Bible where even King David played the harp,” he said.
Judging from their music, Purple Pride Family may just be the next best thing after renowned Joyous Celebration and Zimpraise Choir. They chose to name themselves after the colour purple from the Bible that considers it to be a royal colour.
Online Reporter