Sophia Chese-Msowa : Arts Correspondent

Loosing friends and relatives to cancer pushed budding sungura musician Cloud Chiwanza to release a six-track cancer awareness album. Titled “Cancer: Together Let’s Face It”, the album is the musician’s second release after “Muridzo”, his debut project of 2007. In an interview, Chiwanza said he has realized that not much has been done pertaining the deadly disease and he intends to use music as a conveyer belt to pass his message to the masses.“After losing friends and relatives to cancer I realised that, although cancer affects large sections of society, not as much attention is being paid to it as in the case of other deadly diseases such as HIV/AIDs, TB and malaria,” he said.

“I felt compelled to do something about it but as I had no prior experience in the health sector, I decided to do some research at the cancer Association of Zimbabwe.

“I discovered that many people are succumbing to the disease and in most cases, a number of people are getting diagnosed when it is already too late or when the disease is at advanced because of lack of knowledge,” he said.

Chiwanza also highlighted that the disease has claimed the lives of a number of artists hence the need to do something as artists to raise awareness on the disease.

Cancer claimed the lives of musician Tongai Moyo and theatre producer Walter Mparutsa.

A number of well known people and prominent personalities have also succumbed to the disease.

“It is in this respect that I decided to choose music as a tool for cancer information dissemination,” he said.

“The objective is to promote awareness on cancer prevention, diagnosis, and management. Music has been chosen as a medium that makes a direct impact to the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe’s target group,” he said.

The album was recorded with the help of Culture Fund Zimbabwe Trust and the musician is currently working on a DVD for the album.

 

“I felt compelled to do something about it but as I had no prior experience in the health sector, I decided to do some research at the cancer Association of Zimbabwe.”

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