admin Bruce Ndlovu
The church has always been known as a place where some of the strongest songbirds first find their voices as in the midst of praise and worship, they discover they are blessed with a talent they can use to amplify the message of their maker.
The likes of Kirk Franklin have gone on to acquire fame with their talents which were first discovered and subsequently horned in their churches.
The number of stars in secular music who have a church background suggests that the hallowed halls of church are an ideal place to discover and nurture talent.
In Bulawayo, a teenage gospel sensation is rapidly making her mark on the local gospel scene while following a similar trajectory to her idols on the international stage.
Eighteen-year-old Sibonginkosi a�?Bongiea�? Sibanda, who subscribes to House of Glory International, is steadily carving out a reputation as a strong singer with a voice to rival any gospel artiste in the country and beyond.
The songbird, who attended Hope Fountain Primary School, released her first two albums while at Tennyson Hlabangana High School where she did her O-level and is currently doing her A-level studies.
As she begins to flower into a woman, the young gospel singer believes that her path to stardom is now open for her.
a�?I believe that Ia��m on the right track and with time I will get to where I want to be in my career. The road to superstardom is not easy but it is one that I am willing to travel,a�? she said.
With her second album cementing her love of the lord and her commitment to her talent as a singer, Bongie said that she believes that she could not separate her talent as a singer from her worship of the almighty.
a�?He is the one who gave me the talent so it is only right that I use it in his praise,a�? she said.
As a teenager, Bongie who recently released her second album titled Sweet Jesus said she had mastered the delicate science of balancing her studies and her music.
a�?Ita��s all about time management and I am sure that if anyone puts their mind to it they would be able to pull it off,a�? she said.
Bongie said she had received a lot of support from her parents, who had embraced her career choice at such a tender age.
a�?I have been blessed to have the support of my family which in turn has made it easier to face the obstacles in the music industry,a�? she said.
Online Reporter