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Innocent Shumbahuru (right) poses for a picture with Mathias Mhere

Richmore Tera Arts Correspondent
FEW upcoming artistes have had the chance, let alone relished the prospect, of having their albums enjoying a fine run on the music charts for one straight year competing against the giants in the industry. One has to have a polished project in order to achieve that feat.But gospel musician Innocent Shumbahuru defied the odds after his album, “Garai Munashe” had fine form throughout the year on Radio Zimbabwe and National FM’s Top 20 music charts.

The track “Munyaradzi”, put the artiste on the limelight after it emerged as one of the listener’s favourites.

“I am humbled by the support that radio listeners gave to my album. It is something that I never expected, considering that I am still new in the music industry. This gives us courage to do even more better,” said Shumbahuru, on the sidelines of the Winnie Mashaba gospel concert which was held in the Harare Gardens recently.

The success of the album could also be attributed to the fact that “Garai Munashe” was recorded at Lyton Studios, owned by veteran producer Lyton Ngolomi, the man behind the success stories of prominent gospel artistes like Blessing Shumba, Mathias Mhere and Bethan Pasinawako, among others.

This also explains why he is always one of the supporting artistes during Mhere and Bethan’s shows.

“I have learnt a lot by staging alongside these big musicians. They have also been very supportive and now I see why my album has been well received on the airways for a good part of this year,” Shumbahuru said.

Tracks on the album are “Munomutsvaka”, “Jerusalem”, “Ngatibatsire”, “Muchato”, “Zvivi” and “Munyaradzi”.

“I think my music manages to appeal to people because I play a kind of gospel music which is steeped mainly in the tradional kind of beat known as Chikende which is mainly practiced in the Rusape area where I was born and bred. Music has that role of preserving traditional values and as gospel artistes, we have a dual role of preaching God’s word while also safeguarding our values,” he said.

Like the majority of artistes in Zimbabwe and anywhere else in the world, Shumbahuru however lamented the scourge of piracy which he said was eroding the profits, value and sweat of musicians.

“This (piracy) is one big problem that has entrenched its roots in the music fibre of our country and we should therefore find effective means of uprooting it before it goes out of hand,” Shumbahuru said.

“Garai Munashe” is his third album after “Maropafadzo” (2008) and “Kudzai Ishe” (2010).

Born on December 12, 1977 in Chiduku, Rusape, Shumbahuru, who is a civil engineer by profession, said initially he wanted to be a pastor before anything else and realised that he could minister the Word through music.

He is married to Elizabeth Mlambo and the couple has two kids.