Wataffi prospers still

Bruce Ndlovu . .
DESPITE spending eight weeks at the top of Star FMa��s popular Gospel Greats chart for his song Ngaavongwe, Willis Wataffi says his ascent to the top of the pile in gospel music has not been easy as many have questioned his recent conversion to the genre.

Wataffi surprised all and sundry last year when he went gospel, despite the fact that he had for years made his bread and butter as a secular artiste as the frontman of popular duo, Afrika Revenge.

A few months since he reinvented himself, the move seems to have paid off, with Wataffia��s album, Songs of David, earning the adulation of both fans and critics.

However, this has not prevented the naysayers from suggesting that Wataffi is only a secular impostor disguised in a gospel musiciana��s clothing.

a�?Some were actually questioning why I chose to do a gospel album while others claim that Ia��m doing this for money.

Some have questioned why my sleeve cover depicts me with wings and they ask if I now believe Ia��m an angel.

a�?I realise how sensitive most of our singers are but sadly ita��s mostly those whose names arena��t known who choose to take it upon themselves to question my motives,a�? he said in an interview.

According to Wataffi, some were even questioning why he was being championed by other gospel artistes who had seen nothing wrong in collaborating with him. He said instead of his conversion being viewed as a tale of redemption worthy of other artistes to emulate, he was vilified in gospel circles.

a�?I ended up telling them that I dona��t need their permission to sing gospel.

a�?Ita��s sad really if you look at it. In another case, for example, one musician raised a point about why a gospel artiste would get a a�?world singera�� to sing with them and I was really disturbed. This group of people couldna��t celebrate the saving of a secular musiciansa�� soul instead they saw something wrong with the collaboration,a�? he said.

While he has been celebrating his newly found gospel fame, Wataffi said he found himself grappling with things that he usually didna��t have to deal with as a secular musician.

a�?The last few months have been troublesome. I have just been having challenges with small things that wouldna��t normally give me headaches.

a�?We are on our 8th week at the top of the Star FM Gospel Greats which is something that I never thought was possible. A reputable company approached me and wants to have me as the face of their thank you campaign and when such things are happening I can only say my faith has been raised and my relationship with God strengthened,a�? he said.

Wataffi added that although he enjoyed his gospel success, it had not cushioned him against opportunists who wanted to hijack his recent output for their own gain.

a�?This project has been fought against hard by some people. For example, one church ministry offered to print and sell thousands of Songs of David but they also wanted to have their logo on my album.

a�?I didna��t understand why they wanted their logo on my album and yet never paid for the recording of it. They didna��t offer to sponsor but wanted to sell the music, and I think maybe they wanted to show the world even secular musicians can prosper with gospel.

a�?But I turned it down as I wasna��t about to give another man credit for what God is doing in my life,a�? he said.

Despite his success, Wataffi said that he was not going to allow himself to be boxed and packaged as a strictly gospel artiste.

a�?The most important thing people need to know is that Willis Wataffi is a music artisteA� regardless of what he sings. I have always done gospel songs like Anochengeta off the Afrika revenge album, Iko Zvino from one of my solo albums Qaya Rootz in and Mabrake off Zhizha.

a�?Ia��m not a gospel or secular artiste. I am simply an artiste above all else,a�? said Wataffi.