Dr Tumi basks in international fame
Big sales in US, tour of Africa and UK coming up
Contemporary gospel star Dr Tumi is ready to conquer Africa and the international markets.
The gospel artist of the moment has been riding the crest of the wave and is not about to stop. Last year he took the country by storm by filling the Ticketpro Dome in Randburg.
Two months ago, the singing doctor had a live recording at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria where 34 000 people attended.
Born Tumisang Makweya, Dr Tumi will take on Africa in a five-week tour that starts on March 2 2019. Before then he’ll be in the provinces of South Africa before heading to Kenya, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Namibia, Ghana, Nigeria, Botswana, Zambia, Lesotho and then the UK.
“I think I am ready to conquer Africa. It is about time that I take over. I want to grow the market. My plan is to invade the Nigerian market which is very huge.
“In the US, we have started penetrating the market because 30% of my online sales come from there. I am giving myself two to three years to cement my footprint.”
Dr Tumi, who boasts a youthful following, says his style sets him apart from other musicians. He claims that his urban contemporary approach, original sound and strong message is what woos music lovers.
His latest offering Beauty for Ashes is proof that Dr Tumi knows his fans well.
The album currently sits at number two in the local gospel charts and it’s number five as the most selling gospel album.
“The secret is that people can relate and connect to my music. I am happy that I have a youthful following that will grow old with me.”
He says that the album is about hope, and a possibility of a better day and a better life.
Dr Tumi says Beauty for Ashes re fers to a moment “when God arrived in your life taking away all the mess and replacing it with a better life”.
The album is packed with powerful songs such as the highlight single Wafika.
It is centred around that one point in life where there is a big change.
“There is a lot of Wafika moments, maybe you are in an accident and you survive. The message is that God loves you no matter what.
“Following the song, people started telling their Wafika moments. It is a fact that people are going through a lot of depression, and some resort to suicide.
“To find out that there are people who have gone through what you are experiencing and survived is encouraging.”
The album was recorded live at the Voortrekker Monument, a bastion of Afrikaner and apartheid history.
The in-demand Dr Tumi is among the stars who will perform at the All-Jeans Praise Gospel Festival.
The festival is taking place at the Thaba Moshate Casino in Burgersfort, Limpopo, on December 16. The singing doctor will share the stage with Ney Zimu and Lebo Sekgobela at the gospel picnic event.
“This event was supposed to happen last year, and it rained on that day so it was cancelled. I am looking forward to performing in it this time around.”
My plan is to invade the Nigerian market which is very huge