Sharon Manyika takes trip down memory lane
GWERU has always been the hub of gospel music in Zimbabwe.
It is the roots of the late Freedom Sengwayo, one of the pioneers of gospel music in the country, and the city at some point was home to veteran singer Machanic Manyeruke, who came from the nearby Chiwundura rural areas.
The late Brian Sibalo, another great gospel artiste, also hailed from Gweru.
These legendary gospel singers and preachers became role models in the city and turned out to be great in uences to many would-be gospel artistes in the city.
Gospel music became the talk of the city, new music groups emerged and more gospel stars were born.
Notable gospel musicians to have emerged from the city included the Sibalo siblings Daniel and Joshua, Respina Patai, Mathias Mhere and lately Joyful Praise Choir.
Music became an integral component of evangelism, which saw churches investing much in praise and worship.
One of the churches that became a household name in ministering by embracing music and the Word was the Living Word Church International, an o shoot of Christ Ministries International.
Founded by Apostle Samuel Manyika, Living Word Church International, through its praise and worship aspect, groomed and nurtured a lot of versatile talent within its music groups that brought to life an inhouse music out t called House of David.
House of David rocked and brought a new dimension to the local gospel music arena. The music out t became a revelation in the city and their music took the country by storm.
Songs such as Tarisa Uone, Ruvar
ashe and Sabhuku became hits in the early 2000s, so were members of the group Timothy Kazembe, a seasoned guitarist and music teacher, Sibongile Dhlodhlo, Vimbai Mazendame, Martha Zidana, Tapiwa Mudekunye, Patty Mangwiro, Eneresi, Prince Chigwada, Udzo Paradza and Sharon Manyika-Machingura.
Manyika-Machingura, who is now based in South Africa, took Standard
Style down memory lane highlighting her early stages of her ministering expedition and the fairly tale of the music group that became the launch pad of her music career.
“I was a member of the House of David band for many years and it was an inhouse band for our church, Living Word Churches International founded by Apostle Samuel T Manyika. I was groomed in that band, so were many other young talented worshippers from the church,” said Manyika-Machingura in an interview.
“I was part of the band when the songs Tarisa Uone and Ruvarashe (led by Zidana) were hits in Zimbabwe. Also
Sabhuku led by Udzo Paradza and the song, which is a hit now titled Mundi
regere. It was written by Udzo Paradza. "We were also part of the church crusade team and we used to travel a lot for outreach programmes. That’s how I grew spiritually.”
Inspired by Sibongile Dhlodhlo, one of the lead vocalists in the group House of David, Manyika-Machingura with the support of her father, released her debut solo project, an album titled Mufudzi, which carries the hit track Wakakosha.
“I went solo to record my debut album titled Mufudzi and my maiden concert was at the Gweru Theatre alongside Shabach Dance Group.
"It was fully-packed and it seemed as if everyone in the town had come for the show. That’s where my solo journey started,” she said.
“I also had so many opportunities to grow and learn at church. Being part of the praise and worship team among amazing vocalists and worshippers like Martha Zidana and Sibongile Dhlodhlo, I learnt a lot from them, and understood that gospel music had to be ministry and transformational to those you minister to.
“My pastor then was Pastor Skhumbuzo Dhlodhlo, who would make sure I would stay grounded at church and continue to sing in our praise and worship team.
"It kept me rooted and constantly reminded me that I was not just a public gure, I was in service to God and His people. He was quite strict, sometimes he would not allow me to go for certain shows if we had other church events coinciding."
Manyika-Machingura paid tribute to her father Apostle Manyika and teachers at Midlands Christian College in Gweru where she went for secondary education.
“My father was my manager for many years and I wouldn’t have been even the person or musician that I am today. He wrote the hit song Wakako
sha for me and he did everything necessary to pave way for me and many other gospel artistes who are known today. He created many platforms and supported even nancially many gospel artistes, some who are even big names today,” she said.
“I also had a lot of opportunities to grow at Midlands Christian College where I attended high school. The headmaster then, Mr Musa, was very supportive and he made sure I had the opportunities to sing at every school event.
“I was in the school choir led by Mrs Waugh and Mr Wiseman, who also taught me classical music. At some point, myself, Nigel Matanga and Timale Chiumia started a band just to allow ourselves to be creative. It was awesome.”
Married to Charles Machingura, Manyika-Machingura said despite some members of the group House of David having gone separate ways, other members are still in touch and doing collaborations. “Myself, Vimbai, Martha, Timothy and Udzo we are still working together as part of the band and we released an album titled Shoko [written by Apostle Samuel Manyika] even though we have been engrafting new and younger members to be groomed,” she said. “I’m sure many know some of the oldest members of the church and also leaders like Dr Noah Manyika of Chitsike fame. He also wrote the popular worship song Ndinosimudza Maoko and many other hit songs.”
For almost eight years ManyikaMachingura took a sabbatical and did not release any song as she focused more on professionalising her music career.
“I didn’t release any song for close to eight years as I focused on my studies. "I later graduated with a Higher National Diploma in Music Production and a BA in Music Industry Management and Studio Production overseas. I went to Bible school and even lectured at the OFCI Bible School for a while. I am also very involved in my parents’ ministry and I am also a parent,” she said.
In 2016, after years working on collaborations, Manyika-Machingura released an album titled Munezvose.
“The album did very well and people enjoyed the message. We had an amazing huge concert at the Midlands State University in 2016 where I performed some new and old songs alongside House of David and the amazing Joyful Praise choir, among others,” she said.
Manyika-Machingura has won a number of awards including the Midlands Gospel Awards Best Female Gospel Award and Best Contemporary Gospel at the Permican Awards for the song titled Good to Me, which features Courtney Antipas.
She was nominated for the Best Contemporary Gospel Musician at the Zimbabwe Music Awards last year.
The gospel diva said she was still in the game and is now much involved in music production and grooming upcoming artistes.
“I have been performing with the LDC Choir (a project by Apostle Manyika) and we have toured across South Africa doing powerful musicals depicting various Bible stories. I will announce my solo DVD when I am ready as well,” she said.
“It was meant to be released last year in April, but it could not happen because of the lockdown in March. So, we are just re-arranging a few things to make it enjoyable and relevant. ”
“I am very grateful for the consistent support that Zimbabweans have shown over the years and looking forward to more releases. The song NaM
wari has been a favourite for many and my most recent release Your Love is enjoying generous airplay in Zimbabwe so I hear.”
She said apart from music, she serves in her church.
“I serve at my local church in many ways. I have been preaching a lot during the past few years. So, anything that God has me do to minister, I do it,” she said.
Manyika-Machingura has collaborated with a number of artistes including Pastor G on the song Shinga Us
anete, with South African Victor Ntoni for his Heritage jazz songs Siyay’ Ebayi and Where Are the Children Now as well as with renowned Zimbabwean gospel rapper Courtney Antipas.
The gospel diva has three albums, namely Mufudzi, Do You Believe and
Greater Than the World as well as sever
al singles.