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Patience Muchemwa Arts Correspondent

Ammi Jamanda’s latest single, released this week, is all about tomorrow being another day, about soldering on in tough times to reach the better pastures.

Accompanied by a video in simple rural setting with some great dancing, the soulful song has a strong mbira sound, good lyrics and a great rhythm. It is well done and bound to do well.

She told Homestyle that she composed the song in 2016 when she was on a holiday in Mazowe while facing a hill which was so tough for her to climb.

“Kuti ndipakwire ndaitsvedza.”

To encourage herself she just started to sing “Gata gata iro” then developed the song.

Gata is from makata, Shona for uphill. While Materuis downhill. So literally the song means hard stretches herald better times.

An apt message of hope at a time when exam classes are going through intense preparatory period but those who make it will find sweet relief when exams come out.

It could also speak to the economic turnaround which the country is going through during which many people are facing financial hardships but remain hopeful for a better tomorrow.

Thus this is a message that can be applied to almost any situation in life. It is a call for perseverance and determination to ride through the rough patches as ‘the darkest hour is before dawn.’

The message is especially poignant at a time our society is reeling from stories of suicide and depression happening to very young people.

Ammi said,

“I am encouraging people that no matter what you are going through in life there is a light and hope.”

The lyrics were carefully scripted to flow and catch the imaginations of our society. The instrumentation is truly local and traditional though contemporary fused.

Ammi Jamanda is a 32-year old female Afro fusion artist and a mother of two boys based in Harare.

She started her musical journey in 2008 at the Book Café Sisterz Open Mic . She was mentored by Zimbabwe’s choicest female musicians like DuduManhenga, Edith Weutonga, Chiwoniso, Clare Nyakudjara among others.

She released he rdebut album in 2015 called Ndozvidemba comprising six songs which are Ndozvidemba, Garandichauya, Kodi, Vakuru woye, Murume and Ndozvidemba instrumental.

Ammi’s creativity is deeply set within our own Zimbabwean beat which is our pride. Her music is an expression of who she is. She firmly identifies herself as a Zimbabwean woman, proud of her heritage and culture.

Ammi says her own perseverance comes because ofher fans who have always supported her each time she plays with her band. And she is determined to take her music to the next level.

“Ammi Jamanda in the next 5 years should be a household name in Zimbabwe and abroad. I should have toured around the world, keeping our culture alive” she said.

Gata Rinoshura Materu is available in YouTube on Ammi Jamanda’s handle