The return of Charlenam

Jonathan Mbiriyamveka Entertainment Reporter
Gospel couple Charlenam is back in the mainstream music scene with their album “Grace Moments”. Charlenam Rhythms is made up of husband and wife Charles and Namatayi Chipanga (nee Mubariki). According to Charles, a sought-after marimba player, the name Charlenam is a combination of their first names.

“Charles means a principled, strong and manly person while Namatayi is a Shona word for prayer. So when we came up with the name Charlenam it wasn’t by coincidence in fact it was prophetic and God’s union.

“We believe we are unique in our own way because we are at the forefront of fusing traditional and modern instruments to bring out a sound that is truly Zimbabwean,” Chipanga said.

But for people who share life on and off the stage, the new album is filled with soulful rhythms and hard to ignore beats.
While on the first album Chipanga led in vocals, the second album is all about Namatayi and man oh man she knows how to sing.

“Grace Moments” features 10 tracks which are all about the grace of God. For those who have been to the Tabernacle of Grace from where the couple fellowships, it is little wonder why they sing the way they do.

The couple is part of praise and worship choir and always deliver the best in music.
“I am really excited and overwhelmed that instead of being a vocalist I have taken a lead role in this project.

“Thanks to encouragement from Charles, I never thought I could one day record my music because for the eight years I was just a backing vocalist.
“I urge fans to come and see what Namatayi is all about,” she said.

On the album she features a Congelese national by the name Ekanga who is expected in Harare on September 7 for the album launch scheduled for 99 Park Lane. Ekanga is featured on two tracks “Jehovah”, a song with an African feel as well as on “Vabereka”.

The first single “Hosanna” has been receiving massive airplay. While Namatayi performed the song “Gore Rangu” on Chipanga’s project, on the latest it is Chipanga who performed the song “Tonamata”. It is easy to notice his influence through the marimba.

On “Zvangu Zvaita” there is a medley of sounds including calypso, soukous and a bit of Brazilian influence.
Not only is she an exceptional vocalist, who started singing in church as a 10-year-old, but Namatayi is one of the sought-after percussionists in gospel.

Since 2002, Namatayi has been singing with other groups among them Tanga weKwaSando, Africa Revenge, Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana, Mahube and Steve Dyer to mention just a few.

Her most memorable period of her singing career was when she was part of superstar Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi from 2003-2011.
Known for her performances on stage alongside Mtukudzi, her perfection in making music was no doubt the result of several years of hard work.

As part of the Black Spirits, Namatayi shared the stage with the popular Lucky Dube, George Benson, Awilo Longomba, Salif Keita, Papa Wemba, Joe Thomas, Baba MaaL, Habib Koite, Hugh Masekela, Auntie Dorothy Masuka, UB 40 and Thomas Mapfumo.

In late 2011, she left the Black Spirits and her husband Charles and to form Charlenam Rhythms. Together they have released their debut album “Prayer Expose’” where Namatayi sang a masterpiece “Gore Rangu” a popular hit with gospel music lovers.