Published by the government of Zimbabwe
14 October 2008
Harare — PROLIFIC sungura musician Cephas Mashakada will soon release the first-ever DVD album of his long career that spans over three decades and close to 30 albums.
The eight-track DVD album would be a compilation of some of Mashakada's previously recorded and unrecorded hit songs.
Likely to impress many sungura lovers is the fact that the DVD will feature the musician's all-time classic hit, Samson, that gained anthem status and thrust Mashakada onto the pedestal of national popularity.
Jobho Muranda and Kurara Hope are some of the crowd favourites that will find their way on the DVD while among his yesteryear hits is Kariba, which highlights the dangers and thrills of tourist resorts.
However, Mashakada said a new album, Tinotenda, due for release next month, would precede the DVD.
Tracks to look forward from the six-track album currently being recorded at Gramma Records are Nhai Mwari where the musician borrows from common lingo currently doing the rounds about the power outages: "Gara wadya magetsi anoenda."
Mashakada said the statement put on a gospel tip is meant to encourage people to be always prepared for Jesus Christ's second-coming.
Then there is Ndiyamureiwo, a plea to God to assist a person in times of trouble and listeners can fall in love with its fast jit beat.
Kunamata Kwakanaka, Ndave Kunamata, Ishe Jesu and Ndadzoka Kumusha complete the playlist.
Mashakada started his career in the 1970s and has played with musicians such as Job Mashanda, the late Zabron Kazani and Paul Mpofu.
It was in the mid-1990s that Masha-kada introducing gospel hymns into his music after experiencing waning fortunes.
His audience and music venues however remained the same.
Controversy has, however, dogged him with others accusing him of "stealing" church and social hymns while others said his type of music was not gospel, as he calls it.
But the fact remains that Mashakada has over the years managed to transform himself into one of the country's leading sungura musicians.
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