Where does gospel music stand?

Lovemore Chikova Christian Entertainment
Many gospel music fans must be wondering about the future of the genre in Zimbabwe, given the dominance of other types of music.

ZimDancehall is fast becoming the household genre in terms of airplay and shows.

Of course, sungura is still claiming its stake, but those in the genre need to pull up their socks if they are to avoid being overshadowed by Zimdancehall.

But it is gospel music which is facing a real threat of going under, not only because of the rising genres, but other factors as well.

What has really gone wrong for most of the local gospel music singers?

Pastor Charles Charamba and Olivia Charamba

They are often referred to as the “First Family” of gospel music and they are still active on the musical scene.

But the fact is that their fortunes have a taken a knock, especially after their latest project “WeNazareta” which failed to impress their followers.

It is not only their latest project which has signified the decline in terms of appeal by the gospel music couple.

The two used to fill up venues, but my observation has been that they have slowed down on the shows and the few they are holding are failing to live up to the billing.

I still remember when the couple recorded a live DVD at the Harare International Conference Centre in the early 2000s and the venue was filled to capacity.

It seems that Pastor Charamba’s blunder was to adopt a new beat on “WeNazareta” which sounds like jazz.

He needs to go back to the drawing board if he is to remain relevant on the gospel music scene.

Gone are the days when Pastor Charamba used to produce hits such as “Machira Chete”, “Sarudzai”, “Tauya Kuzomutenda”, “Buruka” and “Mhinduro Iripo”.

And with eight albums to his credit since he started recoding in 1997, Pastor Charamba’s star cannot go down in such a simple way.

Fungisai Zvakavapano-

Mashavave

She started well and was once one of the household names in local gospel music.

It can rightly be pointed out that, just like many other female gospel musicians, Fungisai’s career started going down when she got married to banker Courage Mashavave in 2004.

After her marriage, she shifted her attention more to collaborations and tried her hand at holding shows at night joints such as Jazz 105.

But it was clear that she had lost her appeal.

Gone are the days when gospel music circles would come to a standstill when Fungisai launched an album.

Her latest album “Chenai Moyo — Social Fact 11” was launched at this year’s Harare Agricultural Show, but its impact is yet to be felt.

Sebastian Magacha

Popularly known as Saba, Magacha dented his music career when he started by recording popular hymns and old-age songs.

By doing that, he negatively affected his otherwise promising music career as gospel music lovers did not see any creativity in him.

What is good about Saba is that he is slowly managing to shake off that tag as he is coming up with his own creations.

His latest live DVD album “The Last Commando” recorded at 7 Arts in Avondale shows he has a future in gospel music and can be a leading light in the genre if he continues on the same path.

Mathias Mhere

He burst onto the scene in 2012 with his album “Anoita Minana” but many gospel music followers did not take him seriously.

Although the album carried the hit “Favour”, this did not stop him from being branded a copycat.

His voice and the instruments on the songs were so similar to those of Blessing Shumba that Mhere had no option, but to admit it.

He attributed their striking sound to the fact that they shared the same producer, Lyton Ngolombi, who is also part of Shumba’s band The Holy Psalms.

Although he has topped charts with his latest album “Glory to Glory” and performed at many big shows, he needs to distinguish himself with a creative beat to fully utilise his potential. He can go places with more invention.

Blessing Shumba

He released his first album “Ishe Wazvoshe” in 2009 and many accepted Shumba as a refreshing voice on the gospel musical scene.

But Shumba’s subsequent albums exposed him as someone stagnant in terms of creativity, as people discovered he was using almost the same line of instruments and vocals on every song.

This became monotonous and soon Shumba was no longer that same refreshing voice in gospel music circles.

It is the inability to be innovative and his reliance on programmed keyboards and drums which affected Shumba’s otherwise promising career.

If Shumba had been versatile enough and considering that he had started on the right track, gospel music would have been on another level.

He is still needed in the genre and many are pinning their hopes on him to be adventurous enough.

UFIC Choir

Those who know this choir are aware of the potential it holds to shape gospel music in Zimbabwe and help bring it back on track.

With a number of live DVD recordings to its credit, the choir is still to exploit its potential and establish itself as the leader in gospel music in Zimbabwe.

The major impediment to this choir is its laid back approach, especially with regards to venturing out of the church through holding shows.

As long as it is confined to the United Family International Church, the potential of this choir will never be known by those who do not belong to this church.

But it is good to note that the choir has produced talented individual musicians like Minister Michael Mahendere whose group Direct Worship has been doing well.

Zimpraise

This is probably the best known gospel music choir in Zimbabwe and has already gone places in the last few years.

Just like UFIC Choir, we still need more live performances from this choir for it to impose itself in gospel music.