Sing for God, says Manyeruke

who were now singing gospel.
“It is unfortunate that some of the new gospel artistes do not perform where there are no huge amounts of money.
“Whenever these artistes are called to perform they charge exorbitant fees which make me wonder what they are up to. Some of the fees they charge do not reflect Godliness. Instead of using the opportunity to spread the word of God, they are concentrating on money.

“Some of us started singing when there was no money at all. In the past when we were invited to perform at some functions we would only be given love offerings which were equivalent to transport money. We would just sing knowing that we were doing it for God. I recorded when there was no money at all. Royalties were there but no one told me about them until it was very late,” he explained.

Undoubtedly one of Zimbabwe’s founding gospel fathers who started recording in 1979, Manyeruke said some of the latter day gospel artistes were not motivated by the need to spread the word of God but just wanted to make a quick buck.

This, he said, was synonymous with some South African gospel artistes who were just singing gospel for money, something he said was now happening in Zimbabwe.
He called on the Government to come up with anti-piracy laws saying it was not clear who was behind it.

“In other countries they are very strict. I went to America they do not allow anyone to burn a CD. Piracy has really affected artistes. For instance, if one records today and the CD is mastered you find it on the streets the following day. When you ask the producer how that happens they have no clue,” said Manyeruke.

Commenting on his last born son, Emmanuel, popularly known in dancehall circles as Guspy Warrior, Manyeruke said he was hopeful that the rising chanter would transform.
“Chinoitika ndechekuti tinorima munda asi mbeu dzakasiyana. We are both in the music field asi iye mbeu dzake ndidzo dzakasiyana nedzangu. But I am happy that he is not lost because if you come home and see him, he is well behaved.

“I am certain that he will come back to his senses and start singing gospel because of his strong Christian background. I raised him in the Salvation Army. I also didn’t start as a gospel artiste. I used to sing secular music do you remember one of my songs “Mukoma udza mai kuti ndakura, ndakuroora”. I know that he will definitely sing gospel,” he said.