Matuka retraces traumatic past

Standard Style
Gospel musician Abraham Matuka (pictured) will next Saturday release his third studio album titled Ndiye Mwari Wangu in an early Easter gift detailing a harrowing past, present experience in life as well as humanitarian work.

By Kennedy Nyavaya

Gospel musician Abraham Matuka (pictured) will next Saturday release his third studio album titled Ndiye Mwari Wangu in an early Easter gift detailing a harrowing past, present experience in life as well as humanitarian work.

The six-track offering, which features Angola’s Manezes Bandeira on the title track and Pastor Lawrence Gunda on Gwayana RaMwari, was produced by Propa Bless Studio and would be launched at the Dutch Reformed Church Hall in Harare.

Speaking to Standard Style in an interview on Wednesday, Matuka said he had decided to follow-up his sophomore album released in 2013, after a trail of singles, as an outlet of his encounters over the years.

“I looked at the road I walked through, which was tough, painful, hard and looking at what I am today, I just see that it’s God, so that’s where it is coming from,” Matuka said.

“I have given myself much into charity work with my organisation, so really finding time to be in the studio was a bit impossible, but at the same time I was really preparing to come up with a better album with great messages and I feel this one will speak it all.

Matuka, who has been channelling most of his energy towards the Teen Rescue Mission organisation, said his two roles as a musician and humanitarian had so far supplemented each other.

“It’s all on the same path of preaching the gospel, which is good news to the people because my organisation deals with bringing love, hope and a great future to those neglected like in prison and looking at teenagers that are taking drugs, so it all goes along with the good news of reviving one through music,” he said.

He added that his life journey of rejection under a stepmother’s custody in which he felt left out and condemned made him realise how encouragement from the right people could redirect someone towards achieving greater things.

“A human being needs love no matter you have done wrong or you are in something because for someone to change he or she needs love. So, personally I felt for us to change someone from drugs or any kind of addiction, it’s not about judging or condemning, but about showing love to those people,” he said, adding that he prays to influence the young generation to abstain from social ills including drugs, crime and early sex.

“I want to see them them being a responsible generation that will grow up and make the world a better place. A generation that is full of discipline and God-loving generation — that’s my dream seeing love between parent and child,” he said.

Meanwhile, the album launch event will see Matuka sharing the stage with a number of top gospel musicians.