I’m inspired by Mhere, says gospel crooner Matanda

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GLORIOUS things are happening in the music career of Phineas Matanda, an upcoming gospel musician from the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe church in Chitungwiza.

GLORIOUS things are happening in the music career of Phineas Matanda, an upcoming gospel musician from the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe church in Chitungwiza.

By The Master

The youthful musician testifies that the influence and mentorship from top local gospel music artiste Mathias Mhere inspired him to success.

Matanda recently released a single titled Too Late with Alice Marandure and Damson Wedande as backing vocalists.

He believes the track will outdo his previous releases as he is now more experienced and focused and has invested a lot in the song that was produced by Voice of Thunders studios.

The 23-year-old gospel artiste, who has two albums under his belt, is full of praise for the support that he has been receiving from celebrated local gospel musicians — Sharon Manyonganise of the high-flying local interdenominational gospel outfit, ZimPraise, and Mhere.

It is rare for upcoming artistes to enjoy the kind of support that he is receiving from these established gospel artistes and he attributes it to the grace of God. Matanda is proud to say that he regards Mhere as one of the best in the trade from the current crop of local gospel musicians.

“I got inspiration from a lot of gospel artistes locally, but my main inspiration comes from Mathias Mhere,” he said.

“Mhere is a great gospel artiste and minister. His music is rich in composition and message. He is my mentor, brother and friend.”

Manyonganise is one of the leading voices of Zimpraise Choir, well-known for the song Sungano, which became a national anthem on the local gospel music scene.

Great Exploits, Matanda’s debut album, was enriched by his collaboration with the experienced Manyonganise on the title track Amazing God.

”I have got two albums, namely Great Exploits, which I did in 2015 and carries tracks like Kukura Pazera, which was fairly received, and Amazing God, which carries songs such as Mwari Washandura Order, which has become a favourite among many fans,” he said.

“The title track Amazing God is a collaboration I did with Sharon Manyonganise and the other song off the same album titled Ndinokurovedzera I feature Mathias Mhere.” Matanda says fans have fallen in love with his music and this has led to a rise in bookings for him to hold live shows for churches, conferences, fundraising shows and many other functions.

He says his biggest testimony so far is the way in which local gospel music fans have embraced his productions and attributes all the success to God.

“At least when I released my music, fans managed to appreciate my stuff and supported me. Other local gospel stars have accepted me and appreciated my efforts to preach, thereby encouraging me,” he said.

Matanda said to him, singing gospel music was preaching the Word of God to change the lives of people.

“I was born and bred in a Christian family and Christianity is my life. I discovered the gift of singing at the age of six and later on, I discovered that I was also a preacher. I decided to use my gift of singing to preach,” he said.

“Gospel music has changed my life in many ways, but mostly just knowing that somebody out there is coming to Christ through my music ministry is a great thing.”