Jazz songstress and song writer Dudu Manhenga could be ditching the mic for the pulpit any time soon.
BY BEST MASINIRE
Manhenga says she has always been a minister of the word of God as she is a deaconess, vice-chairperson in the board of deacons, counsellor and a member of the praise and worship team at her church — Jubilee Christian Centre, which falls under the Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe.
Famed for her song Mvura, she has since confirmed that she will become a pastor after finishing her theology studies at the Pan-African Christian College in Hatfield, Harare.
“I can confirm that I am studying theology to become a pastor or simply a minister of the word of God for the benefit of the body of Christ,” Manhenga said.
“In fact, I have always been a minister of the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ because I am a deaconess, vice-chairperson in the board of deacons, counsellor and member of the praise and worship team at my church.”
The jazz queen also shed more light on her decision to become a pastor saying that she was now a full-time theology student to ensure that she becomes an effective and efficient disseminator of the gospel.
“I have always been a part time theology student, but I have since decided to become a full time student as this will help me become an effective and efficient minister of the word of God.”
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However, Manhenga said that it was never her dream to become a pastor, but she had to take it up after God’s calling.
“Growing up as a young girl, I never dreamt of becoming a pastor. But God talked to me and I know that this is the right thing to do,” she said.
The jazz musician, however, said she was not going to change her genre of music or stop doing shows because it was the same Lord who gave her the talent of singing.
To the joy of her fans, Manhenga is going to release a gospel album this April, and all things being equal, it will carry the same rhythm that has symbolised her music over the past years.
The album will be called For You and will carry 11 tracks.
“I am going to release a gospel album next month. It will carry that same rhythm that has always been there in my music over the years.” Manhenga started performing professionally at the age of 16.
She emerged as a leader on the local music scene after long stints as backing vocalist for several top artists including Oliver Mtukudzi, Steve Dyer, Louis Mhlanga, Tanga Wekwa Sando and Dumi Ngulube, while studying at the Zimbabwe College of Music in Harare.
In 2001 she formed the group Color Blu along with her husband Blessing Muparutsa.
They released their debut nine-track afro-jazz fusion album Out of the Blu in 2003, which was warmly received by the music-loving public and contained songs which became hits like Mvura, Bengimthandile and MaDlamini.
In 2007, Manhenga released Jula — a Ndebele word meaning “depth”, which aptly describes her musical journey and also gave her music an identity that is unique and distinctive.
To date she has toured around the world and is a force to reckon with in as much as jazz music is concerned not only in Zimbabwe, but also in Africa.
“I have always been a part-time theology student, but I have since decided to become a full-time student as this will help me become an effective and efficient minister of the word of God.” However, Manhenga said that it was never her dream to become a pastor, but that she had to take it up after getting God’s calling. “Growing up as a young girl, I never dreamt of becoming a pastor. But God talked to me and I know that this is the right thing to do,” she said. The jazz musician, however, said she was not going to change her genre of music or stop doing shows because it was the same Lord who gave her the singing talent. To the joy of her fans, Manhenga is going to release a gospel album this April, and all things being equal, it will carry the same rhythm that has symbolised her music over the past years. The album will be called For You and will carry 11 tracks. “I am going to release a gospel album next month. It will carry that same rhythm that has always been there in my music over the years.” Manhenga started performing professionally at the age of 16. She emerged as a leader on the local music scene after long stints as a backing vocalist for several top artists including Oliver Mtukudzi, Steve Dyer, Louis Mhlanga, Tanga Wekwa Sando and Dumi Ngulube, while studying at the Zimbabwe College of Music in Harare. In 2001 she formed the group Color Blu along with her husband Blessing Muparutsa. They released their debut nine-track afro-jazz fusion album Out of the Blu in 2003, which was warmly received by the music-loving public and contained songs which became hits like Mvura, Bengimthandile and MaDlamini. In 2007, Manhenga released Jula a Ndebele word meaning “depth”, which aptly describes her musical journey and also gave her music an identity that is unique and distinctive. To date, she has toured around the world and is a force to reckon with in as much as jazz music is concerned not only in Zimbabwe, but in the whole of Africa.
