RISING music producer Gibson Makumbe of Voice of Thunder (VOT ) studios has lined up eight female gospel artists in The Girl Child collaboration track — a music project that seeks to raise awareness on the plight of the girl child in Zimbabwe and urges her to arise and shine and defend her rights.
gospel music sermon with The Master
Makumbe last Wednesday said they were putting final touches to the song set to be released either today or tomorrow and the launch will be on radio.
The VOT director said he mooted the project three months ago and sought the assistance of four prominent female gospel musicians — Agatha Murudzwa, Olinda Marowa, Bethan Pasinawako-Ngolomi, Rumbi Zvirikuzhe — and blended them with upcoming musicians Rumbie Gatawa, Gamu Magadzire, Patience Mbando and Sehlapi Mtombeni.
“As a producer, I know each musician’s potential and used that in the selection of the artists. I then spoke to them about the collaboration on the girl child song and the messages in the project which contain two parts: arise and shine and stand up for your rights.
“So, we assigned others to sing about arise and shine of the girl child and the rest about defending her rights. They were all supportive of the idea and we arranged the dates where they would came as individuals to the studio for the recordings,” he said.
After observing that many local and international organisations were preaching the message about the challenges facing the girl child, Makumbe said he decided to support the noble cause.
“What inspired me was that the issues these organisations bring to the fore are really happening. So, it awakened us to do our part to fight against the infringement of the rights of the girl child and give her courage,” he said.
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In the song, which is sang in Shona, English and Ndebele, Agatha Murudzwa leads by singing about a young Hebrew woman who is able to breastfeed the child that was rescued from the water, referring to the biblical Miriam who rescued and saved her brother Moses.
Had it not been for his sister, Moses would have drowned. Murudzwa sings, saying the girl child, therefore, is a blessing.
Bethan comes in urging the girl child, who is a victim of rape and is forced to abandon school at an early age, to rise up as all is not lost.
A chorus reminds the girl child that she is special and should stand up for her rights as she is the beloved of God.
Gatawa sings about God and international bodies like the United Nations, African Union and Sadc as well as the Constitution of Zimbabwe which have laws that protect the girl child.
Marowa cites the rights of the girl child to be educated and to be the leading light in development as she is a precious bright shining star.
Mbando advises parents to prioritise the education of the girl child and to desist from pushing them into early marriages, while Mtombeni‘s message in Ndebele is on the plight of orphans left behind by the parents when they were still young. She urges society to take care of them well like they would their own children as they also need love and care.
Girl Child lyrics
Agatha Murudzwa
Kune mudzimai wechiHebhuru Anogona kukuyamwisirai mwana wamanhonga mumvura Ndi Miriam Pahwuduku hwake aka saver hanzvadziyake Moses Dai asinakudaro Moses ainyura Wakakosha wakakosha mwanasikana.
Bethan Pasinawako- Ngolomi
Haasi magumo enyika mwanasikana Kunzi wabatwa chibharo Chikoro waakusiira panzira Simuka , simuka, simuka nguva ichiripo Zvinogoneka zvinogadzirisika
Chorus
Wakakosha iwe Mwanasikana Chengetedza kodzero dzako Mwari anewe
Girl child you are the beloved of our God Girl child, oh stand up for your rights.
Rumbie Gatawa
Our God is always behind you And UN is always behind you AU is always behind you The SADC protocol is also behind you Our constitution is always behind you Stand up, stand up for your rights
Olinda Marowa
Ikodzero yangu kudzidza Kuwamhare yebudiriro Never look down upon me For I am a bright shining star I’m a bright shining star ndakakosha he- eh iyee. I’m a bright shining star ndakakosha
Rumbie Zvirikuzhe
Girls are the spirit of our nation Save them stop exploitation hooom. Life is beautiful and fulfilling if supported by your mother, sister, wife and daughter Save the girl child save the girl child huuuumm
Gamu Magadzire
Vakunda vazhinji vakaita zvakanaka Asiiwe unowakunda vose Zvinofadzaa zvinonyengedza izvo Hona hunaku ohh hauna maturo Asimukunda anotya Jehovha Ndiye anofanira kurumbidzwa
Patience Mbando
Nemiwo nemiwo vabereki Koshesai dzidzo yemwanasikana Musati zvazvaoma chisikanagara Chikomana endamberi nedzidzo Chisikana chiroorwa mhuriiyamurike Chisikana chiroorwaehh Mhuri iwanemari
Sehlapi Mtombeni
Kule ntandane ezatshiywa ngabazali babo besese bancane yeee masibabambeni kahle njenge zinye izingane bafunu ncedo kuwe bafunu thando kuwe
Chorus
Uqakathekile wena ntombazana gcina ilungelo lakho uthixo ulawe
Voice of Thunder studios has produced music for prominent local artists such as Mathias Mhere, Trymore Bande, Munyaradzi Munodawafa and Noel Zembe
Makumbe, who is married to Kudzai, is blessed with a three-year old son Danaishe. He said his wife was very supportive of his career and handles the finances and administrative work, including bookings, enabling him to concentrate fully on the production side.
The studio is located at his home in Chitungwiza, an ideal environment he said gives him more time to do his work.
“You may rent an office in town at a building that closes at 6pm, but here I have no limitations of time,” he said.
You may contact the columnist, Albert Masaka on Email: [email protected]
