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Amara Brown

Brenda Phiri Entertainment Reporter
THE GONG which gospel sensation Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave and Ammara Brown landed at the recently-held Coca Cola Radio Zimbabwe Top 50 awards ceremony is a challenge to other female musicians to do better when it comes to competing with their male counterparts.

Fungisai’s track “Gore Rapera” that features Jah Prayzah was on position five while Ammara’s “Kure” made it into the list. They received cash prizes of $300 and $200 respectively. By winning the awards, the two divas made a statement to fellow female artistes to work hard and make their presence felt in the male-dominated industry. While Zimbabwe has a pool of talented female musicians, it is sad that they have been in the shadows.

Another saddening scenario is that some female musicians tend to blow hot and cold career-wise. They fizzle out once they release good products onto the market.

Creating a breed of one-hit wonders.

Those with a long memory will recall the years when the likes of Amai Shingisai Siluma, Mercy Mutsvene, Carol Mujokoro and Fungisai herself would treat their fans with a string of new releases each year. They would also dominate the music charts. Also, gone are the days when these female divas would hold sold-out shows that would keep entertained and spiritually uplifted. This trend has, however, shifted and one wonders what might be happening to these female musicians.

Could it be a case of poor management and promotion or laxity on the part of the artistes themselves?

The feat that was made by Fungisai and Ammara should jolt other female musicians out of their shells.

It is a challenge for them to pull up their socks and go head to head with their male counterparts.

There are a number of talented female musicians like Edith Weutonga, Tariro Negitare, Selmor Mtukudzi, Agartha Murudzwa and Mai Foya, among others, who have been visible in recent years.