GLITZ and glamour was on display last Tuesday at the launch of Elton Gumbo’s fifth album Dzevanoenda at the Testimony of Christ International Church in Greendale as gospel fans in Harare experienced another memorable night in the company of seasoned musicians Agatha Murudzwa-Dembera and Innocent Shumbahuru, who graced the occasion in solidarity.
gospel music sermon with The Master
In a career spanning more than a decade, this was Gumbo’s first live performance on stage and it was an opportunity to atone for his earlier setback which arose after he produced his debut album Infinity 1, which was of poor sound quality.
He blamed what he termed was the big studios’ habit of looking down upon new musicians.
This time at the launch of his debut live DVD he could afford to smile as he had hired the best in the trade.
Previously he told The Standard Style that the launch was an answer to a call from his fans who have been finding it difficult to “marry his music to his face”.
Upcoming gospel artistes present also got the opportunity to showcase their talents before Gumbo took to the stage and gave a well-polished act, playing five songs from his 10-track album — Tinosimudzira, Mifungo yedu, Ubesihlukuluza, Satani Arikutenderera and Pasi Nekudenga.
Chipinge-raised Portia Mbando was the first to warm up the stage captivating the crowd with her song Gutsikana.
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Mbando, who was also on stage for the first time, entralled fans with her energetic dancing and surprised many in the crowd as she exuded the confidence characteristic of a veteran musician.
People, who braved the chilly weather, were spoilt for choice as the multilingual Psaltz Keys graced the stage treating the audience to their Afro-jazz feel. then the immaculately dressed Eddie Masewu got the audience dancing to his sungura beat on the songs Gore Reminana and Nditungamire. Alice Marandure, Phineas Matenda and Carol Guvamombe also graced the event.
Quotes from musicians at the launch:
Agatha Murudzwa
“Proverbs 18 v 16: “a man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. It’s about the the gift and talent that God has endowed in his life.”
“God should provide wisdom to know people who to work with, so that his gift will give him the chance with great men.
“Journalists always ask me what I do besides singing and my answer is always, ‘besides singing, I sing’.
“We have challenges of trying to compete, God gave us different gifts, let’s realise where our real gifts are and utilise them to maximum advantage.”
Innocent Shumbahuru
“This was a perfect and amazing experience.”
Eddie Masewu
“This is great. I urge all gospel musicians to continue to be united and support others at their album launches.”
Carol Guvamombe
“I really enjoyed. It is always a wonderful to support your own when they are doing a good thing. In my song Zimbabwe, I portray the nation as a mother lamenting for her children, praying for restoration for the sake of her children.”
Psaltz Keys
“I am grateful to Elton Gumbo and Eddie Masewu for the support they have given me and also to my band Psalmody Blue and my wife who gave me the courage to go on stage. I have more confidence now and I will be ministering live on stage more often.”
