Godwin Makoho
Gospel musician, Rumbi Zvirikuzhe-Nazombe, has bounced back after a six-year hiatus.
The diva, who took the gospel scene by storm in 2006 with her debut album “Jesu Inhare” which featured the hit song, “Uya Mweya Mutsvene” appealed to the corporate world to consider female gospel artistes when they roll out sponsorship to the arts industry.
Zvirikuzhe, the inspirational gospel artist, had last recorded an album in 2017 and then shelved her music career.
She launched her 6th album Zvoramba Sei Apo at Anglican Cathedral in the Harare CBD on Saturday after a sabbatical, which she attributed to financial challenges.
“My new album Zvoramba Sei Apo, carries nine tracks which include Mweya wangu featuring Apostle Paul Sambo and a Chewa song, Ndinu wakuera which I featured my husband Smart Nazombe.
“The word of God always inspires me to keep on in the music industry because I realised that some people come close to God through music and others have no time to seat down reading the bible but when listen to gospel songs, they can even be healed,” she said.
Her music touches the soul of every Christian believer and encouragement. One of the tracks titled “Mudanga” is about the birth of Jesus Christ who was born in a manger instead of a highly valued place though he is a Messiah.
“I worked with a variety of producers in my other previous albums which include Doctor Tawanda, Lyton Ngolomi and Makumbe but financial challenges forced me to take a break in the music industry because gospel music has less sponsorship as compared to other genres.
“I am appealing to the corporate world to also consider gospel music and female artists for sponsorship since I am seeing gospel artists being sidelined.”
The album, which carries nine tracks, was released on the fourth of November at a colourful event graced by other experienced gospel artists which include Pastor Charles Charamba and wife, Pastor Haisa and other upcoming artists at Anglican Cathedral in Harare CBD.
Following the demand from her thirsty gospel music fans, she worked behind the scenes over the years to come up with a polished work produced by Blessing Masanga.
Another track titled, “Zvoramba sei” is an inspirational song which encourages people to always ask the Lord for breakthrough whenever they face challenges in life. Some of the other songs include, “Inzwi Kudana, Mununuri Jesu, We shall overcome, Tenzi Nditungamire,” among others.
To date her discography includes five albums namely, Mwari Inhare (2006), Tenzi Chiramba Kusakara(2009), Restoration (2011), Mutsawashe (2017) and Kwajeka in 2017. She looks to feature great musicians Shingisai Suluma and Amai Olivia Charamba in her future albums.