THERE was a time in this country when it was frowned upon for Christians to play "heathen" musical instruments, such as guitars and drums, in church.

Other than pure choral music, only the dignified organ and piano were allowed.

Those who dared play any other instruments did so only within the confines of the church and were not encouraged to be seen playing such worldly instruments in public.

As a result, for a long time, the country had only very few established gospel musicians. They included Freedom Sengwayo, Jordan Chataika and Machanic Manyeruke.

Brian Sibalo, who belonged to the same church as Sengwayo, joined the club later.

Even then, gospel music accompanied by instruments was restricted to churches and weddings.

But over the past few years, a quiet revolution has taken place in the gospel music industry, with the number of gospel bands increasing and now outnumbering other music genres.

Following the launching of Ngaavongwe Records in 1994, a gospel music label, Christian musicians have emerged from their isolation. Elias Musakwa, a founder of Ngaavongwe Records, said his company records for more than 65 gospel musicians.

"It is a fact that gospel musicians are now outnumbering musicians playing other types of music and in my opinion, it is because people are realising that there is only one supreme Maker."

Musakwa, a member of a generation of musicians who have successfully stepped into the shoes of Sengwayo, Chataika and Manyeruke, said in the past, record companies were not enthusiastic to take gospel musicians into their stables because they felt the genre was not commercially viable.

"It was a particularly difficult time because while the gospel musicians wanted to spread the Word of God, the record companies were only worried about profits.

"If only three or four gospel musicians were able to record with the record companies, then it means a large number were being turned away purely on the assumption that gospel music did not sell."

Musakwa said as a result, gospel music lovers depended on musicians who sang other types of music to release albums of traditional or sungura music with one or two gospel tunes thrown in for diversity or after running out of ideas.

In most cases, musicians would do that after going through emotional turmoil, like a death in the family.

"That was unfair on gospel music lovers as they were being starved of their favourite type of music."

Some sungura musicians like Zexie Manatsa, Cephas Mashakada and Knowledge Kunenyati are among the few musicians who have crossed the floor to gospel music.

Manatsa, ironically, was well-known for making sarcastic comments about the Vapostori religious sect - Tea Hobvu, for instance.

The late Biggie Tembo of Simbimbino fame had also become a born-again Christian and was singing gospel music when he died.

Manyeruke, the only surviving pioneer of gospel music, said he faced stiff opposition from the church when he tried to play the guitar during services.

"The guitar was associated with evil during those days because in the early 1970s, some musicians who entertained people in beerhalls were themselves drunkards."

Manyeruke said he continued to quote Psalms 150 to church leaders who frowned upon musical instruments.

Part of the verse says: "Praise the Lord! . . . Praise Him with trumpet blasts, praise Him with harps and lyres.

"Praise Him with tambourines and dancing, praise him with stringed instruments and flutes."

Manyeruke said after musical instruments were grudgingly accepted by the church, the next hurdle for gospel musicians to clear was the acceptance of their products by recording companies.

"Some of my early recordings, such as Zakeo, were recorded and ignored by record companies for a long time but when they released them on a trial basis, they realised that the music could sell just like other types of music."

He said after being released on the market, gospel music sold well, despite not receiving adequate airplay on radio and television.

A large number of gospel music groups were from Pentecostal churches.

Manyeruke said this was partly because such churches allowed members to openly express themselves during praise and worship.

Now, gospel songs outnumber secular music during interludes on television while some gospel musicians, such as Charles Charamba, have sold more than 100 000 copies of a single release.

The increase in gospel groups has sparked debate on whether some of the musicians are genuine believers in God or are just lying in ambush for money generated by large sales.

The wives of Radio Zimbabwe DJs have joined in recording gospel music. Eric Knight's wife Martha and Ezra Sibanda's wife Mercia have both released albums. Television producer Remmington Mbeya also released an album.