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Zimbabwe: Shamu Takes Gospel Music to Another Level
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
7 July 2008
Posted to the web 7 July 2008
Richmore Tera
Harare
THE thick line between secular and gospel music is increasingly becoming blurred, with most gospel artistes borrowing heavily from sungura, and vice versa. Pastor Charles Charamba has done it with success, and people seem to love it, a development that has inspired other gospel musicians to follow suit.
One such musician who has taken this cue to greater and scintillating heights is new arrival on the gospel music landscape, Elder Shepherd Shamu (30), whose debut release Chivi Chivi Chete is moulded along sungura lines. But that does not translate to say that his music is deficient in spiritual, enlightening lyrics. Shamu said there was nothing wrong in someone borrowing beats from other forms of music and introducing them into gospel for as long as that person still stuck to divine, Godly messages in his lyrics.
"Gospel can be supported or backed by any type of music, which the Bible clearly states when it says praise him with any kind of musical instrument. The only important thing is how you have composed your lyrics, whether they are reaching out to their intended audience and more importantly, whether the message is being heard," said the Chitungwiza-based Shamu who plays backed by session musicians. Listening to the eight-track album, one begins to wonder where Shamu has been all these years. "I have been experiencing a lot of financial hardships since the time I launched my music career in 2000 until I met my current sponsor Givemore "Mushe" Bhoko of Gibho Manufacturers who footed all my recording fees, thus making the album a reality."
What is likely to be a favourite of many on the album is the opening track Munotambirepi that is very topical in the way it tackles the subject of the dreaded HIV/ Aids. It exhorts people to seek sanctuary in Jesus Christ for solace and safety from the brutal storms and fickle desires of the flesh and world. Here, traces of rhumba creep in to lend to the song a very thrilling aspect. Shamu soft-pedals his beat on Moto Mugehena but the message gets even stronger as he does not mince his words by reminding sinners that Amargeddon awaits them in the end. Vakatenderana goes the jiti way and is a song of love and marriage. Other tracks on the album include Kudzai Jesu, Kudzai Jesu Instrumental and Munotambirepi Instrumental. Recorded at Voice of Jordan Studios, the album is marketed and distributed by Corner Studios. The affable Shamu says he is not into music for competition but his aim is to use his music to preach the word of God. He also said an accompanying DVD album is in the pipeline.
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