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Eloi and Bishop Bathlowmew Manjoro

Eloi Manjoro is one of the biggest finds in gospel music so far this year. The gifted artiste has taken a different approach to his music and art. Blessed with charisma and voice, Eloi brings his new sound not just in Zimbabwe but beyond borders. For him music is not just music but a calling. Our Entertainment Reporter Jonathan Mbiriyamveka (JM) talks to Eloi Manjoro (EM) to find out more about his life and music.

JM: Who is Eloi? Any relations to the famous Preacher Bishop Bartholomew Manjoro?
EM: Eloi Manjoro is a Zimbabwean Gospel music artist, songwriter, producer and engineer who is most notably known for working behind the scenes and producing outstanding music for different musicians. Bishop Dr Bartholomew Manjoro is my mentor and father.

JM:When and where were you born?
EM: I was born in the city of Chinhoyi December 1984

JM: Was music a calling or a past time hobby?
EM: I like to think of myself as fulfilling a serious creative need to express myself musically. My music is a calling and also an impartation from my mom. She is a musician and songwriter. She’s always been a passionate worshiper and I owe my music career to her. She started ministering in music at a young age while playing the accordion.

She would evangelize and minister while playing her accordion in the church, streets and even during her mission trips to the countries such as Botswana, Mozambique and Swaziland.

JM: How is your music different from what’s already on the market?
EM: I believe every artist, in their own respect, develops a signature sound as their music matures and grows with them. My music definitely has it’s own signature sound that is recognizable as you listen to it more and more.

JM: What should be done to improve local gospel?
EM: I believe our local music is definitely on the right track and it’s growing at an unbelievable pace. One thing that would definitely improve our local gospel music would be to start making music with an international mindset. I believe we have definitely hit high points in Zimbabwe. It’s time to get our artists some international recognition and all that starts from the creative point. We’ve got to start thinking internationally. What I mean by internationally is not just targeting our fellow Zimbabweans in the diaspora, but targeting the people from those countries as well.

JM: What was the name of your debut album?
EM: My debut album was called “In God’s Love.” It came out early 2007 and then became available online in 2009. The album did very well in the Christian community.

However, it had it’s shinning moments nationally with the hit song “Amen”, which played for some weeks on Power FM Top 10, and “If JC Ain’t in the House”, which was listed in the top five for Sport FM’s Sunday Gospel music Top 10 charts. The album was followed by a single release in 2010 called “I Made it” which was on number one on Power FM’s Breakfast Inspiration for several months. The album, “In God’s Love” was also a door-opener for some of my international connections. Some of which I was able to work with on my newest project; “Peace, Love and Joy”.

JM: We understand you’ve worked with renowned artistes, who are some of these names?
EM: I’ve been blessed to rub shoulders with, and work alongside, some great artists over the years. I worked as producer/ engineer at Liquid Production Studios 2005 – 2008
Artistes and musicians I worked with during that period include Pastor G, Prince Mafukidze, Ex-xel, Sharon Manyika, Pride Priestly, Reverb, Dhudhu Manhenga, Clive Mono Mukundu, Sam Mtukudzi, Marbel Madondo, Kudzi Nyakudya, Emelda Mudzamuri and Pardon Mutsago. At that point I moved to USA to pursue further studies in music and sound engineering and attend Bible college.

I became a certified Pro Tools Studio engineer in 2010 and I have worked with artistes like Anthony Evans, Eddie James, Kim Walker and Jesus Culture, Phil Wickham, Kari Jobe, Klaus Keuhn, Group One Crew, Brian and Jenn Johnson (Bethel Music), Steffany Frizzell and William Matthews (Bethel Music), Jamie Grace and Gabriel Allred (CFNI Worship Leader).

I have also worked with Jonathan Lewis (CFNI Director of the Worship Major), Press Play, Christ For the Nations Worship team, Youth For the Nations Worship team.

I was assistant recording engineer for Joni Lamb and The Day Star singers’ “Set Free” live recording and I also did Christ for the Nations live recording in 2010 and 2011. I was assistant monitor engineer for Christ for the Nations live recording in 2013 and main monitor engineer for Peace, Love and Joy project.

JM: Coming to the latest album what are the issues that you raise? Any favourite songs?
EM: The new album is called “Peace, Love and Joy”. It had an early online release exclusively on iTunes on December 23, 2013 then finally on other platforms (Google Store, Rhapsody, Spotify, iHeart Radio) on December 26. The album finally made it’s long awaited CD debut on January 18, 2014. I am so grateful for the love and support that the fans have shown. With this Album I really wanted to focus on three things: Peace, Love and Joy. We’re living in a world that is constantly changing. All over the world, people face unbelievable situations and struggles. Just to mention a few: war, pain, corruption, misunderstandings, broken relationships, child abuse, divorce, broken families, job struggles, sex trafficking, drug addictions, disease, and death. Yet through all these obstacles, people still find a reason to wake up in the morning and live another day with hope for a better day than yesterday. So I began to ask myself; Where do we find this hope for a better day? How do we continually hope for a better tomorrow even when the odds are against us? Where does this inner strength originate from? I truly believe every story has a beginning and our beginning originates from God.

Favourite songs, ummmmm . . .  It’s hard to pick out favourites, but there’re definitely some tracks that will connect with people as soon as they hear them. These tracks include “Willow Willow” featuring Rumby Muzana, “I’m running to you” featuring Pastor Prince Mafukidze (currently on Power  FM Breakfast Inspiration top 20), and “Holy Ghost Party” featuring Batsie Thembani.

JM: Do you have a band or you work with session musicians? And who produced the album?
EM: I’m currently working mainly with session musicians and hopefully with time and growth I’ll have a stable band. Working with session musicians has been a blessing in disguise. I’ve worked with some amazing musicians who are well established in the industry. Just to mention a few from this new album, I’ve worked with bass player Justin Raines who is known for his work with Israel Houghton and New Breed.  I have also wsorked with bass player Sharay Reed, known for his work with artists like Smokie Norful, Yolanda Adams, T.D. Jakes, Virtue and Cece Winans as well as keyboard player Stephen Lewis III known for his work with artists like Fred Hammond and Kirk Franklin. It has truly been a blessing.

JM: Give us your brief background.
EM: I was born and raised in a Christian household. My parents, Bishop Bartholomew and Prophetess Apphia Manjoro have always been known for their uncompromising stance on the word of God. I thank God for my parents who, not only told us, but showed us how to completely rely on God in all things. My father is the founder and senior pastor of Faith World Ministries International and the president of Faith World Bible College, which has raised a great number of pastors. He was called to full time ministry in 1968 and has never looked back since then. My mother, who has been in ministry since 1970, is the co-founder and first lady of Faith World Ministries and the founder and president of Virtuous Women Community (VWC) which was established in 1993 and has been a blessing to ladies all over the country. Later down the line, VWC gave birth to

The Claapphia Rescue Center which is a shelter for pregnant minors and teenagers who have been sexually abused and abandoned or forsaken by their families.

JM: Where can people find your music?
EM: People can find my music on iTunes, Amazon music, Google store, Rhapsody, Spotify, Youtube, and they can stay up to date with what’s happening on Facebook.

Everyone is welcome to check out our record label site www.emang-records.com through it you can stay in touch with me, find out what’s new and get exclusive insight on some great projects that we’re working on, including my next project. The CD is also available at Faith World Ministries offices at First Floor Manica House in Robert Mugabe Harare.

JM: Who is your inspiration?
EM: My father and mother have been the greatest inspiration in my life. Not only in what they say, but in what they do. As the saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words.” Their lives have continued to be great inspiration to me and I would not be the man I am today if it wasn’t for them. Their actions truly spoke louder than their words.

They have shown me that with prayer, faith in God and hard work, you can achieve anything you put your mind to.

My inspiration, musically, is Kirk Franklin and Fred Hammond – their execution and spirit of excellence in terms of music arrangement and depth of lyrical content is very inspiring. Israel Houghton, Donnie McClurkin and William McDowell also inspire me – their spirit of worship challenges me to go deeper.

JM: Last words?
EM: Finally a word to every young person, no matter what is behind you or what’s standing in your way, you can make it. Despite the pain you could have gone through ; the loss and betrayal you experienced ; the disadvantaging and impoverished background; flopped and shattered dreams; haunting acts of abuse and not to mention entanglements socially and a broken heart inside – you can make it, you can battle it out. Don’t give up or throw in the towel. If God be for you who can be against you. God bless you.