By Alfred Tembo
Gweru-based gospel musician Respina Patai says the Covid 19 pandemic has helped her to take a serious introspection into her musical journey, an experince that led to the birth of her latest and fourth album titled Watch and Pray.
Speaking to Standard Style, on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) all stakeholders workshop held in Gweru last Wednesday Mai Patai said “everything happens for the good to those that believe”.
The award-winning artiste, Better known to her legion of fans as Mai Patai, said during the Covid-19-induced lock down her life was driven by prayer more than anything else.
“At first, lockdown meant no movement and limited activities, but later I realised that it was an opportunity for self introspection,” Mai Patai said.
“I spent much of my time in my prayer room meditating and seeking God’s intervention to many situations.
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“Watch and Pray is my fourth album and the first project l have done after l got odained as a pastor.”
The album has six tracks, namely Ndinonyengera, Settle My Matter, Handikundikane, Ndinotenda Mwanakomana, Mweya Mutsvene and Chii Chinganditye.
“Going solo meant that I needed a lot of guidance, but from who?” she asked.
“Only God is realiable. So, the mission started and here I am working with fruits for trusting and depending on Him are being seen.”
Mai Patai started as a backing vocalist to her husband Ephraim Patai and his band Voice of Prophecy in 1999.
It was in the same year that they launched their debut Anenzeve Ngaanzwe followed by Shoko Seshoko (2000), Rumbidzwai (2002) and Mabhiravira (2003), which concluded her active participation in the band as she opted to launch her solo adventures away from the shadows of her husband now based in Namibia.
Mai Patai never turned back and continies to grow her rich musical catalogue which now has four albums namely Makanaka (2004), Samulena (2010), Punish the Devil (2021) and Watch and Pray (2022).