LOCAL gospel music icon, Charles Charamba last week, said after having shown the ropes to many upcoming musicians, he was delighted that his youngest sister — Munyaradzi Nyakudya — announced her arrival on the mainstream music scene with her debut album.
BY ALBERT MASAKA
The album, titled Testimony, was launched on Thursday night amid indications that more family members are set to venture into music in a development likely to create a new gospel music sub-genre coalescing around Zimbabwe’s gospel music’s first family.
Speaking to NewsDay on the sidelines of Nyakudya’s album launch, Charamba said this was the first time they had helped one of their own.
“We have helped many artistes in Zimbabwe, but this time, it is someone from our family,” he said. “More is coming from other members of our family soon.”
Nyakudya — who goes by the monicker Tete Munya on stage — expressed gratitude to the Charambas for the “midwife” role they played in birthing her music career.
“I am very grateful to both Pastor Charamba and amai (Olivia) Charamba for their unconditional love and patience and for nurturing my talent. They have always been like my parents,” she said.
Nyakudya also acknowledged the couple, together with United Family International Church founder and leader Emmanuel Makandiwa’s wife, Ruth, for giving her exposure and teachings.
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“They exposed me to many things and we travelled far and wide to many countries such as Mozambique, South Africa, United Kingdom and United States,” she said.
Ruth graced the album launch, along with the guest of honour, National Arts Council deputy director, Nicholas Moyo, police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, gospel musician, Olinda Marowa and comedian Mai Titi among others.
Nyakudya took to the stage with the song, You Are Not a Man, off the 12-track album, and wowed fans, who had packed the Ster Kinekor auditorium.
Marowa, Charles and Olivia Charamba together with their mother, Dorcas Semba Charamba, also took to the stage to sing the popular track, Sarudzai.
Moyo urged artistes to take advantage of new technology to market themselves and circumvent the effects of piracy, while Nyakudya’s husband and project sponsor, Ado, urged husbands to support their wives.
The 35-year-old Nyakudya started singing in 2001 as a backing vocalist for the Fishers of Men.
