Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Richmore Tera
12 November 2009
Harare — IT is encouraging to note that more women are venturing into the music industry than before and are even striving hard to come up with quality music that matches or even exceeds the standards set by their predecessors.
Not only are they making their presence felt in one genre -- gospel music -- but are also making it in all realms, a development that seeks to shows that women artists are just as good as their counterparts.
Interestingly, the new voices seem to have learnt the golden rule that nothing beats originality, and they are sounding just like that, bringing in a refreshing new dimension to local music.
However, this doesn't mean that there are no new promising releases from male artistes, but our focus this week would be on female musicians.
Fortunate Dube Mudiwa
Hail the new diva of romantic love ballads!
That aptly sums up Fortunate Dube the 26-year-old Kwekwe-born songbird who has just stormed the music scene with her debut album, Mudiwa.
Although she first tested stern musical waters in 2007 with a single, Unondirwadzisa, she finally decided to drop this six-track love album late last month, and what a bomb it is!
Its title Mudiwa is self-explanatory: it is laden with gems talking about matters of the heart.
One just needs to listen to the title track in order to appreciate this.
It is about the heartaches found in a relationship.
The message is delivered home through Fortunate's fine voice and beat that reminds one of Plaxedes Wenyika-Joka.
"Hana yangu baby inorova usipo/Mudiwa unondipengesa kana ndinewe," are part of the lyrics on the song.
In Wauya, the lover is rejoicing at seeing one's partner, and the song is relevant in that it is not just a simple love song but it cements the idea of having a single partner: "Ndiwe wega wandinoda (you are my one and only)".
Asking for forgiveness to avert going separate ways is the message that is carried in the track Ndakakutadzira.
But while the man is pleading with the wife to stay, she on the other hand, is fed up with the kind of life that she is living.
As if in response to the wife's declaration to leave, the husband responds that he would never have peace of mind if she leaves him, in the slow gem, Ukandisiya.
The rest of the playlist on the album are the tracks Handimboda and Unondirwadzisa.
Born on September 8, 1986, Fortunate grew up with a passion for music, while listening to the music of other artistes.
Inspired by the music of Tererai Mugwadi, whose voice and lyrics she said she loved, Fortunate said that she finally decided to "pen" her own lyrics.
"I don't write songs but just sing the choruses as they come to me. I then develop the songs from them, and the rest of the lyrics take shape," said Fortunate, who is proud to be called an urban groover.
She featured Lucky Mangezi on the album recorded at Kachingwe Productions.
Awake the Harp -- Ndirangarirei Jesu
Doreen Chikuni and Romania Jasi -- the two female artistes who make up the outfit Awake the Harp -- have been in the music industry since 2005 following the release of their poorly-marketed but well-done debut release Chinjikano.
They followed this up with their second project, Nditarire Nokufara two years later, that finally announced their presence, especially with the song Wakoshei, that had an accompanying video that did well on local television.
Now they are back with their third album, Ndirangarirei Jesu that was recorded at Metro Studios and is already receiving fair airplay on the local airwaves.
Listening to their sound on this six-track album, one will obviously see the reason why they had to change studios a record three times -- from Gramma, to CM20 and finally Metro Studios.
"We changed studios because it was a learning process to us and at the same time were also trying to find an ideal studio for ourselves," said 34-year-old Doreen.
On the album, the divas -- who are members of the AFM Church in Zimre Park -- fuse different music styles ranging from reggae, sungura, jazz to church hymns to cater for a cross-section of listeners.
The opening track, Gezai Moyo Wangu, is about how Christ can cleanse people's hearts.
It is fast-paced song that starts with a slow beat and then goes up-tempo in reminding people that no matter how much they may look presentable in life, they are still impure in God's eyes if their hearts are full of sins.
"Ndageza, musoro ndakama, ndapfeka, ko moyo wangu uchagezwa naniko?" quip the musicians.
There is nothing that people can achieve in life without the God leading their way through Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the light, as indicated in the song Jehovha Vasipo.
Ndirangarirei Jesu is a plea to God by a person who is asking to be remembered for his/ her work in the church through paying tithes, following the 10 commandments and loving others.
Mudzimai Unokosha pays homage to the significant role that women play in society as mothers, life-bearers, caregivers and buffers of love and comfort.
"Mwari baba makaita zvenyu nekusika munhukadzi . . . Munhu wega ari panyika akasikwa nemunhukadzi/Ivo mambo Jesu vakazvarwa nemunhukadzi (thank you God for creating women. Everyone on earth was borne by women, even Jesus Christ)".
Famba Mangwanangwana and Nditungamirei Jesu are the rest of the songs on the album.
"We were inspired by the music of New Life Choral Group," said Romania (34).
Thabiso -- My Breakthrough
If there is one thing that everyone eagerly hopes and dreams for is their breakthrough -- that defining moment when one grabs the golden key that unlocks and determines their fate and destiny.
While this is true in terms of material and worldly things, one's breakthrough can also apply to that moment when they decided to turn their back on sin and embrace Jesus Christ as their saviour.
That is exactly what the multi-lingual songstress who simply calls herself Thabiso of the Gospel of Peace outfit has done on her first release titled My Breakthrough.
It applies to everyone, advising them that it is never too late to repent.
Muvambi Wekutenda says it all in that it offers Jesus Christ as the fountain of faith in God.
Marriage is also said to be a hallowed covenant made and sealed by the divine presence of God, and that it should be kept chaste and pure forever until death parts the couple.
This is in the song titled Wedding Bells, that is likely to be a favourite of many during weddings this festive season.
Thabiso's ability to sing in Shona, Ndebele and English comes to the fore on the album and one will easily fall in love with the song Umalibongwe IgamaLakhe in which she advocates for the praise and Worship of God.
He Rose from the Dead is the Biblical story of Jesus' resurrection revisited and done in a captivating way that reminds people that Jesus Christ is alive forever to deliver people from sin.
Africa is remembered in the self-explanatory song Remember Africa while Nherera is dedicated to orphans.
The 10-track album was recorded at Tonderai Music Corporation.
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