Gospel singer Nyoni turns to jazz

BY SHARON SIBINDI

BULAWAYO-BASED gospel artiste, In­no­cent “Gogo un­aSingijo” Ny­oni recently released her debut six track Afro Jazz album titled Watch Out which he says is aimed at reviving the African culture through folktale teaching.

Gogo un­aSingijo gained popularity in the city in 2019 after venturing into street comedy while dressed like a granny and carrying a walking stick.

In an interview with NewsDay Life & Style the founder of Phakama Vangeli gospel group said while he was not abandoning gospel music he wanted to push the other brand.

“I am so excited that people are loving the album, I am looking forward to marketing and pushing the brand so that Gogo naSingijo’s music and street comedy touches many people not only in Zimbabwe, but in different parts of the continent,” he said.

Known for telling social ills in a comic way, Gogo un­aSingijo said the album is mostly targeted to the youths whose future is slowly being eroded by peer pressure among other things which he seeks to correct through his compositions.

“I use comics to talk about social ills and address serious issues affecting our society. We need to value life, it is precious, but we see some of these youngsters are so reckless. I then decided to bring back the way we were brought up through my singing and comparing it to today to show these youngsters the difference,” he said.

“On the album, there is a track which talks about culture, in this song I teach the school children the importance of our culture, I tell them folktales to show  it’s importance and where we came from.

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“There is also a track called Amehl’ amakhulu athand’ ukubona izinto zonke zomhlaba, a lot of things are no longer done in schools like we used to do  during our days, like a granny , i bemoan all that and I try to bring it  back through my singing.”

Gogo un­aSingijo said his music also teaches women to take care of their husbands, cook for them and encourages them to stop the business of spending the day gossiping through dura walls.

“The society has experienced ills like Vuzu parties , drug abuse , gender based violence, disrespecting of the elders among others, so Gogo unaSingijo is saying watch out, you never know what tomorrow has,” he said.

Gogo un­aSingijo has shared stage in various gospel shows with the likes of Derrick Ndzimande, Knowledge Nkiwane, Hlengiwe Mhlaba, Dumi Mkokstad, Donny Ngwenyama, Takesure Zamar and Rebecca Malope.

Follow Sharon on Twitter @SibindiSharon