THOUSANDS of Zimbabweans based in the United Kingdom are never in short supply of the Word of God that is ministered through music as He is mightily using His children to accomplish great works in foreign lands.
By The Master
Producing three albums, promoting popular gospel musicians from her home country, Zimbabwe, in the UK and doing philanthropic work by mainly helping the disadvantaged is no mean feat particularly for a mother of seven, but this is definitely not so with UK-based gospel minister Rhoda Tongogara, popularly known in gospel music circles as Mai Tongogara, who in her testimony attributes this to God who leads her every step.
Mai Tongogara last week told The Standard Style that she was working on staging two gospel music concerts in the UK set to be held in June and October although she is yet to finalise the line-up of musicians with her management team.
This is indeed welcome news for the multitude of gospel music fans in the UK who are yearning for the local product, which has produced powerful gospel music over the years that has spread beyond the borders.
“My biggest testimony is how God leads my steps in the music industry. And how I have managed to support the disadvantaged people through charity organisations that I work with in Zimbabwe,” she said.
“I have recorded three albums to date. My first album titled Muranda Washe features Mathias Mhere and my third album titled Pembera featured Bethan Pasinawako. I also work with Zimbabwean gospel musicians in the UK and in my home country.”
Mai Tongogara is founder of the highly successful gospel music Explosion of Praise Gospel Promotions and also works with other companies like CD RUN, which is based in the US to distribute gospel music through online sales.
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Explosion of Praise Gospel Promotions was officially launched with the aim of encouraging all gospel musicians around the world to work together in spreading the Word, as well as supporting upcoming artistes, said Mai Tongogara.
“My music is more like our traditional choruses and hymns. I write most of my songs, but I also sing our childhood choruses and hymns. And the response is really amazing in Zimbabwe as well as abroad,” she said.
“My message is mostly about repentance and also I lost my dad, so some of my songs like Munyaradzi are songs for comfort and encouragement that comes from the Holy Spirit.”
As a promoter, Mai Tongogara has had her own fair share of success, earning respect among the fans in the UK.
She hosted, for the first time, multi-award-winning gospel musician Reverend Togarepi Chivaviro in Manchester in 2015, which was also the time when Explosion of Praise Gospel Promotions was officially launched.
“The response was so overwhelming and it was a success. Then in 2016 I hosted Mathias Mhere, Baba Manyeruke and Bethan Pasinawako-Ngolomi. I also launched my third album during that tour. We had three shows and two of them got the best response from fans. The other one was a bit of a challenge due to the weather and location in the UK,” she said.
Mai Tongogara says she is blessed and thankful to God, who is her pillar of strength, for the support that she is receiving from her loving husband Granger Tongogara.
“He really supports me, but God is my strength. I manage to balance work, music and family life. Because music demands most of my time, I also take breaks so that I can fullfil other duties. Time management is my main key,” she said.
Mai Tongogara really loves and appreciates the tremendous support from her fans and her prayer is for them to be blessed in Jesus Christ’s name.
l You may contact the columnist, Albert Masaka, on email: [email protected]
