Derrick Ndzimande rescues Zimbabwean artiste

LITTLE known aspiring gospel artiste Thulani Khumalo who is also visually impaired has said he forgives all those who duped him while he was trying to realise his musicals career.

The music industry has its own ups and downs and Khumalo has not been spared as he is trying to prove his passion for music which he said started way back when he was at Mtshabezi Secondary School between 2002 and 2004.

Khumalo, who became visually impaired at six years old alleged that he was duped by fellow visually impaired G-studio owner Nigel Gweshe.

Khumalo (35) from Chief Sigola's area in the outskirts of Bulawayo said he entered into a botched recording deal with G-studio, the agreement being that he will pay the studio fees after recording.

"The problem is that we did not put the deal in black and white, it was just a gentleman's agreement. We were halfway through the recording and that's when the guy said he needed the money and I did not have the money and everything stopped," said Khumalo.

Khumalo told the Sunday Life that he continued trying his luck from various seasoned artiste and well-wishers.

"I ran around and met a lot of people and organisations but nothing came of it, it is when I was in Harare that I was directed back to Bulawayo to meet Thomas Sibanda."

In 2013 Khumalo met Sibanda, a sound engineer cum music promoter and gospel artiste who later organised a free recording deal for me.

"It was Sibanda who connected me to a recording studio — Derrick Studio in South Africa where I later recorded for free," added Khumalo.

The studio is owned by South African gospel artiste Derrick Ndzimande. At Derrick studios he recorded his successful ten-track album titled Uyamangalisa uJesu.

Sibanda also said he was moved by compassion to help Khumalo realise his dream.

"I met Khumalo at an Inter-denominational service in town where I do sound engineering, that is where he narrated his ordeal to me. As someone who he is concerned to help others especially the challenged to realise their dreams, I had to engage my colleagues in South Africa to help in the recording of the album," said Sibanda, indicating that he is now working on the marketing of the album.

"On his own it can be difficult to market the album so we are planning shows with seasoned gospel artistes from Bulawayo and South Africa so that they can curtain-raise for him in a bid to penetrate the market," said Sibanda.

Sunday Life caught up with Gweshe who refuted Khumalo's claims saying the deal was above board as Khumalo came in the company of his church Bishop who promised to pay for him.

"From what I know he came together with his Bishop to the studio who promised to pay his studio fees. The deal was that he was to going to pay during the course of the recording, instead they just went silent over the issue," he said.

Asked why G-quality studio could not enter into a written agreement with Khumalo, Gweshe revealed that the man of God had promised to be his surety. Gweshe added that he was also visually impaired and was not a cheat.