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Yeukai karengezeka  Arts Correspondent
Does marriage bring blessings or misfortune to female artistes? This question boggles the mind considering how female musicians struggle to keep their careers after marriage. Do you remember Betty Makaya who hogged the lime light with song “Kurwizi” in 2004 that saw her clinching a prestigious award as the Best Urban Grooves Artiste?

She also made headlines with the hit songs “Amai”, “Ndakusuwa” and “Wakaenda” before she went into oblivion.
For years, she was off the limelight until it was discovered that she got married and relocated to South Africa.

Though she tried to revive her career with two singles “Chokwadi” and “Maybe” last year, she could not reach the bar she set for herself before her marriage.

She was quoted saying, “I have always been singing for as long as I can remember. So let’s just say I have never stopped music, but I only took a break five years ago.”

Biblically it is known that marriage is a blessing from God but one wonders why for most female artistes, marriage seems to signify a career downfall.

Our local music industry gave birth to talented female artistes, who made names for themselves but where are they now?
Can it be that they married men that do no support their careers or marriages become their ultimate achievements in life.

Gospel sensation Bethany Pasinawako became very popular before getting married. After marriage she has produced nothing in eight years. She seems to have faded into a back up vocalist for other singers like Mathias Mhere, Sabastian Magacha and Trymore Bande.

The “Ndinzverei” hit–maker said she has not recorded because she was focusing on her marriage and studies.
Amanda Sagonda last year tried to revive her fame when she acted on a local drama “Gringo Troublemaker” and even promised her fans an album that never was.

Her last album was “Jesu Havakundikane” which was released in 2006, the same year she got married to Request Machimbira. The “Jesu Number One” singer said her long abscence from the music scene was a result of her mother’s death in 2008. She said her mother was her source of inspiration.

In 2012 Plaxedes Wenyika made the headlines when she announced that she was quitting her marketing job to focus on her music career. It had been 10 years without releasing an album.

The soul singer made her name with her first two albums “Tisaparadzane” (2002) and “Kamumhanzi” (2004).
She later released “Sentiments” in 2007 and “Full Circle” in 2009 and “Brighter Day”. But she has since gone quiet.

While it is believed that once a woman marries they get committed to family issues more than their careers there are some female artistes who have done well proving that women are good at multitasking.

There are examples of musicians like Fungisai Zvakavapano- Mashavave, Caroline Mujokoro, Dudu Manhenga, Sandra Ndebele among others who have done well both at home and career-wise.

Fungisai said she has maintained her presence because she has a supportive husband.
“Of course demands are very high as mother but it is made easier if your marital partner supports you,” she said.

“It depends with how passionate and determined you are about your career and having a supportive husband is just the icing on the cake,” said afro jazz singer Dudu Manhenga.