Upcoming Rusape-born gospel artist Tatenda Hera’s challenging upbringing, in which she grew up as an orphan in a family of nine children, has not deterred her at all on her divine mission as she is more determined to spread the message of God through song.
gospel music sermon with The Master
She said being a gospel musician, temptations will always be there but she knows why she has been called into this ministry of spreading the word of God, and therefore, nothing will stop her from singing for the Lord.
The 25-year-old Hera, recorded her first album Makanaka Jesu at the age of 20 – a four-track album, whose message as in most of her songs, is inspired by experiences she faced in her tough journey in life.
The following year she did a single DVD from the first track Takaponeswa off the album Makanaka Jesu.
This year she has released a single track, Mbiri kunaShe — a collaboration she did with Tatenda Mahachi.
“I recently released a single track titled Mbiri kunaShe, featuring Tatenda Mahachi, no matter what the situation is, joy will come in the morning, for God did not give us the spirit of failure but of victory,” she said.
“It’s a brief message of the song saying all the glory belongs to God.
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“I grew up as an orphan, but God has been my Father, now I rejoice giving thanks to the Lord. In 2013 l did a single DVD from the first album, the first track Takaponeswa, the message on this song is how God loved us and sent his son Jesus to die for our sins.”
Hera used to sing in the Sunday school choir at church and never planned to record her music, but other congregants who were impressed with her talent encouraged her to record.
She said at first she would laugh at those suggestions because she never thought she was good enough to record her music until God revealed Himself through a dream.
“I started questioning God himself, how can I do it? I did not know how to do it. I loved the response from the Almighty, it gave me strength; He said don’t worry I will make a way for you, just do it,” she said.
“I was also inspired by other ladies who started singing at a very young age, the likes of Pastor Olinda, Bethany and Rumbie Zvirikuzhe.
Pressing job-related commitments at her workplace in South Africa have seen her failing to attend attend rehearsals or other live shows that she has been invited to perform at.
In her music, she encourages people who have sinned not to look down upon themselves simply because they have sinned.
“God loves you as you are. His word says in Matthew 11:28; ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. I also used the verse John 8:7 where Jesus challenged those who thought they were without sin to throw the first stone against the woman caught in an adultery act,” she said.
“Because our Father loves us as we are including those who have sinned, no one is perfect. The word of God is the key in my message, the first album is a mixture of genres, but on the second album l am going to go into jazz.”
Hera said she does not have a favourite singer in the gospel genre but listens to anything that moves her spirit and locally, she listens to music from Minister Michael Mahendere and Takesure Zamar.
In her base in South Africa, she listens to the “music of Siphokazi, Zaza Mokethi, Neyi Zimu and the Spirit of Praise crew led by Bishop Benjamin Dube as well as Dr Tumi”.
She is planning to do more collaborations with other gospel artists to bring new flavour to her music, and is very active on social media networks like Facebook and Instagram.
You may contact the columnist, Albert Masaka on Email: [email protected] Cell or Whatsapp 0776963414
