THIS year,gospel musicians the Charambas and Shingisai Suluma have announced their celebrations of 30 years of celebrating gospel music ministry.
To mark the milestone, The Charambas released three musical albums which have of thirty songs, Farai Nevanofara, Chemai Nevanochema and Olive Branch.
In like manner, for three decades, Zimbabwean gospel icon Shingisai Suluma has inspired worshippers across generations with songs of faith, perseverance and devotion.
Shingisai was born Shingisai Chadoka in Gweru to a musically-gifted family.
She began singing in church at age seven and was already leading a choir by 17.
She attended school at Oriel Girls High School in Harare and later studied in England, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Textile and Design from Surrey University.
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While in the UK, she recorded her first album, Zvanaka (1995), which marked the beginning of an impressive discography of 11 albums, including Huyai Ishe Jesu (1998), Mumaoko (2000), Nokuti Wakanaka (2002), Tatenda Taona (2005), Maitiro Enyu (2007), Rwendo (2013), Masuwo (2016) and Pano Patasvika (2017).
Her music, which is rooted in scripture and worship, earned her multiple Zimbabwe Music Awards and a National Arts Merit Award for the song Nanhasi.
Reflecting on her early years, Suluma recalls that music was never initially seen as a career path.
“Our parents never talked about recording; it was just something we did in church,” she said.
Encouraged by faith and opportunity, she ventured into recording, later joined by her husband, Stephen Suluma, who became her producer and musical partner.
Together, they built a ministry that shaped modern Zimbabwean gospel and pioneering live concert recordings.
Suluma, however, accepts as true that The Charambas were arguably the first band to make a live recording.
The couple’s journey was not without trials.
After Stephen suffered a severe stroke in 2018, their daughters, Tashinga and Tiara, stepped into the family ministry.
Trained from childhood to play instruments, they now play key roles in Suluma’s performances and recordings.
“We are a girl team now. When Stephen sees his daughters working in music, it moves him deeply.”
Having lived in both Zimbabwe and North America, Suluma has balanced motherhood, ministry and education.
She taught while pursuing further studies abroad, often managing lectures, rehearsals and family life single-handedly.
“It can only be God who gives wisdom to balance it all,” she said.
Suluma’s faith underpins her artistry.
Quoting Matthew 5:16, she reminded fellow artistes: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Another guiding verse for her is Proverbs 3:5-6, which teaches believers to trust in the Lord and not lean on their own understanding.
“Those scriptures have carried me through every season,” she said.
Now celebrating thirty years in gospel music, Suluma continues to mentor young worshippers and dreams of translating her songs into French and Portuguese to reach wider audiences.
For her, true reward lies not in trophies, but in testimonies.
“Awards are good, but when someone writes to say, ‘Your song healed me,’ that is the greatest prize.”