adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
Christians from all over the country have been urged to stop buying pirated music. The call was made by Reverend Paul Bayethe Damasane during the launch of gospel musician Dorothy Chipo Madamba’s album titled Promises of a brighter Day at the National History Museum in Bulawayo on Saturday.
The album launch was attended by Takesure Zamar, Saimon Mambazo Phiri, William Nyandoro and local pastors.
“Let us as Christians have a habit of playing and buying original music all the time. When you see music in the streets being sold for a song don’t buy. Instead just stop and ask them why they are killing musicians and then go home,” he said.
Rev Damasane said no amount of legislation could stop piracy without the support of people.
“We’ll not fight piracy through laws alone, we need you also to chip in. Because it’s you who buy, it’s you who dub the music for other people. If another person wants the music in your car show them the shop where they can buy their own original music,” he said.
Rev Damasane encouraged those in the audience during the album launch to buy Madamba’s music.
“Don’t just smile at Chipo and say wonderful day; you’re happy you’ve gotten something out, buy her album. At the end of the day Ecclesiastes 10 verse 10, is right; Money answers all things. She has sung yes and she needs an answer to that gift to further her talent,” he said.
During the launch, the guests heeded Rev Damasane’s call as Madamba’s first album was sold for $65.
Damasane also called for the support of female musicians and said more should be done to train them as professional instrumentalists.
“I don’t speak about things that are abstract but I’ve started in my own church. The lead guitarist is a young girl aged 18. We should support women as artistes not just as singers. They should be instrumentalists like drummers, guitarists and pianists. The person on the sound deck can also be a woman. We want to celebrate her as we celebrate women’s day,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, gospel artiste Takesure Zamar had words of encouragement for Madamba.
“In everything you do my sister, make sure God attends. When He attends it doesn’t matter who comes and who doesn’t come, when God is there you’re good to go. God is a God of miracles,” he said.
Zamar said praises for one come later in life for the work one puts in today.
“People will usually give you praises late in life when you don’t need them. I was born here, raised here and stayed here in Bulawayo, but the people of Bulawayo are the last ones to take photos with me after seeing me with others everywhere else. A prophet has no honour in his own home,” he said.
Speaking after the launch, Madamba said she finds inspiration to write songs from life experiences.
“Jesu wezvishamiso is one of the tracks and comes from that hyperinflationary period we went through. It was a difficult time for my family. You had money and walked into a shop and couldn’t buy anything. At some point we were thrown out of a house but through it all God was there,” she said.
Madamba, who is also an entomologist at the museum, said she wanted to record when she was 14.
“I wanted to record when I was 14 but my parents didn’t want. I hadn’t matured as a musician and I kept writing music. Three years ago I decided to work on an album and here we are,” she said.
Madamba is the lead vocalist in her local church choir at the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa and is a member of the Zimpraise Choir under Zimpraise Holdings.
The album was produced by Blessing Sitotombe of Sweet Breeze Music and Stot Bass Productions.
Online Reporter