By Style Reporter
Gospel musician Farai Makandanje, aka Social Doctor, says he will pick up where he left off last year with a number of projects lined up this year. The artiste, one of the young gospel musicians to have emerged in the country in the last decade, told Standard Style that he has much in store for gospel music enthusiasts.
“This year is going to be a busy year as we move on to grow the brand Social Doctor Music,” he said.
“We are working on the videos from our latest album Kufanana NaJesu. We will do a DVD launch in April, and then in August we will launch our third album.
“We will also embark on a series of live shows and some charity work to empower the less privileged by giving them access to education and some mentorship programmes.”
Social Doctor is looking forward to performing at private functions and live performances around the country.
“Our band is intact and bookings can be done for me as a solo act or with the full band,” he said.
He said he was working on a number of projects, including a new album expected to be released mid-year.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“I am in the studio finalising a single titled Makatendeka, which features Evangelist Timothy, to be released by February. There are two more singles coming followed by the album in August,” the businessman-cum-musician said.
While 2019 was a tough year, Social Doctor does not regret much.
“I think 2019 was fair in its own way. Even though we couldn’t meet some of our targets, but we still believe we got our fair share,” he said.
He said Zimbabwean gospel music was blessed to have people like Prophet Tapiwa Freddy, who are ploughing back into the genre to keep it alive.
“I have known Prophet Freddy from the musical circles and as a fellow musician and I can say he is multi-talented and a hard worker,” he said.
“I believe as musicians if we are to put the same effort which he puts especially in the gospel music industry, we can make the gospel genre bigger and better.”
The gospel crooner, who believes his music speaks to issues that affect people, made his entrance into the mainstream music industry with a single titled Buruka Uone in May 2018 before releasing an eight-track album titled Munoshamisa in October the same year.
“My first single Buruka Uone got favourable airplay on radio stations, which motivated me to release the album Munoshamisa later in the year,” he said.
His debut album, which was produced by Lyton Ngolomi at Lyton Studios and the backing vocals done by Bethen Pasinawako, carries tracks such as Fambai Neni, Mwanasikana, Buruka Uone, Ndimi Mwari, Kubata Kwenyu, Munoshamisa, Jesu Waroverwa and Makafanira.
His second album Kufanana NaJesu carries eight tracks including Jehovha Pindirai, Vauya Baba, Unoda Shoko, Mari, Dai Waramba Uripo, Dzingori Nyasha, which features Blessing Shumba, Gabhurona and Nyarara Kuchema.
Early last year he released a single titled Anoropafadza on which he features gospel songstress Pastor Olinda Marowa Ziwenga. Later in the year he joined forces with Kudzi Nyakudya and
Pasinawako-Ngolomi for a single titled Ndinotenda.
Social Doctor is married to Yvonne Chimunda and they are blessed with a son, Anopaishe Makandanje.
