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BLESSING SHUMBA

Tawanda Marwizi Arts Correspondent
Since Mutare-based gospel musician Blessing Shumba hogged the limelight, he has been struggling to make it on the international market.

The musician became the darling of many music lovers with songs such as “Mufaro”, “Chimwe neChimwe” and “Hama Dzatinadzo”. Although his songs have been getting thousands views on platforms like YouTube they have not made it on platforms such as iTunes, Sound Cloud and Sony Catalogue International among others.

He has won the National Merit Awards, topped the Zimbabwe Coca-Cola Radio Top 50 and has performed in different venues within Zimbabwe and the region.

With all that in his portfolio the musician is still to make an impact on the international market. Yesterday he said he has already penned two songs from his coming album “Calvary” that have been designed to appeal to the international market.

He said the two songs “Step by Step” and “Open Doors” were done in English and has added live instruments on the songs.

The musician said when God’s time comes people internationally will accept his Word.

“I am a preacher of the Word of God and everything else is not for me to say,” said the soft-spoken musician.

He said when he performed in Botswana, South Africa and Namibia last year he realised that the language barrier was a problem.

“There was need to have English songs because we had some shows regionally and language was a problem,” he said.

Other songs that will be on the album are “Matatenda”, “Zvapera Mwari”, “Hatigumbutsi Hatitsamwise” and “ZvaMwari Zvakesari”.

“We are still to add other songs on the album that will be launched on March 4,” he said.

The launch will be held at Golden Peacock in Mutare and several Government officials and musicians expected to attend.

The musician has joined other gospel artistes who have made efforts to break the jinx on the international market.

For years the Charambas have made efforts including releasing a jazz album to penetrate the international scene.

Mathias Mhere is on record as saying he is making an effort to have songs that have an appeal globally.