News / National
Ngwenya earns Zim gospel torch-bearer tag in UK
17 Sep 2017 at 09:48hrs | Views
MULTI-TALENTED United Kingdom– based gospel musician-cum-promoter Timothy Ngwenya is fast-becoming the torch bearer of Zimbabwean gospel music abroad by both collaborating and organising shows for local artists and South African gospel music ministers.
Ngwenya, who has just released his fifth album, Taurai Neni, is thankful to God that he did not go astray after relocating to a foreign land, as many gospel musicians have done.
"So many musicians have moved away from Zimbabwe and left the ministry and I thank God I did not fall in the same trap for any reason and I thank God for that," he said.
Ngwenya has promoted a number of successful shows in the UK under the Ebenezer Gospel Promotions banner beginning in 2015.
"We are growing and developing good relationships with fellow musicians across the globe," he said.
He has promoted shows for celebrated South African gospel artists Sipho Makhabane, Godfrey Mondlane and Nobathembu Mabeka and locals — Reverend Chivaviro, Kudzie Nyakudya, Tyra "Madam Boss" Chikocho and is looking forward to inviting more.
"I'm a body that God created physically as a firefighter and spiritually as a gospel musician and I believe these two work together and that balances my duty on this earth," he said, explaining how he manages to do all this as well as work as a fire fighter in the UK.
At the album launch of Taurai Nesu at the Salvation Army Church in Leicester, UK he invited multi-award winning local gospel artist Reverend Chivaviro of the Ebenezer fame as well as Mondlane from South Africa.
"It went on very well. We delivered as we promised. Almost all CDs I had were bought and so far the response is amazing," he said.
Ngwenya also hosted a dinner at the launch and donated the proceeds to orphans.
He said he had invested a lot in the project and collaborated with nine musicians, including vocalists Rho Rho Chikaponya, Tasha Gweza and Eve Moyo on the latest album produced by Mozy Gavaza at Sounds God Studios.
He also heaped praises on Chivaviro for the assistance that he provided in the release of the album
"He has been in prayer with me, I got the ‘bestest' advice from him and I am honoured to have had him on the day, sharing the stage with him.
Ngwenya said the title Taurai Nesu brackets all the songs on the 12-track album since he believes that every song can be a title track to someone.
The message on one of the tracks on the album that promises to catch the attention of his fans is Jesu Honai, which features Kudzi Nyakudya, where he sings about the evil that is being done in the church.
"We are now grazing grass like cattle in your name, church members are eating snakes in your name, Doom yakubvisiswa madhimoni [an insect killer is being used to cast out demons]," he said.
"I'm not condemning anyone, but I was just singing to God about the reality I see and I have no answers to these things."
The other one is Baleka, a song sung in Zulu and which features Chivaviro and Mondlane, which simply says "run away with your life because the devil is chasing after you and if he catches you he will leave you in a fire."
Ngwenya's music career started while at Sunday school in the Salvation Army church, from where his brother Chaka Ngwenya later took him to the studio for the first time to record under the project called Soul Seekers.
He did three albums under the group Soul Seekers and did four as a solo career.
Ngwenya has held concerts with fellow ministers in the industry such as pastors Charles and Olivia Charamba, Mahendere Brothers, Shingisai Siluma, Baba Mechanic Manyeruke and many more, including taking part in Nguvayakwana, Red Rose and Ngaavongwe concerts.
He has shared the stage with South African artists Rebecca Malope, the late Vuyo Mokwena, Sipho Makhabane and Mondlane.
Ngwenya cherishes his experiences in Zimbabwe and regards them as the best in the ministry because they made him who he is today.
"The UK is a different world altogether and not easy because of the language barriers," he said.
l You may contact the columnist, Albert Masaka on Email: albertmasaka7@gmail.com
Ngwenya, who has just released his fifth album, Taurai Neni, is thankful to God that he did not go astray after relocating to a foreign land, as many gospel musicians have done.
"So many musicians have moved away from Zimbabwe and left the ministry and I thank God I did not fall in the same trap for any reason and I thank God for that," he said.
Ngwenya has promoted a number of successful shows in the UK under the Ebenezer Gospel Promotions banner beginning in 2015.
"We are growing and developing good relationships with fellow musicians across the globe," he said.
He has promoted shows for celebrated South African gospel artists Sipho Makhabane, Godfrey Mondlane and Nobathembu Mabeka and locals — Reverend Chivaviro, Kudzie Nyakudya, Tyra "Madam Boss" Chikocho and is looking forward to inviting more.
"I'm a body that God created physically as a firefighter and spiritually as a gospel musician and I believe these two work together and that balances my duty on this earth," he said, explaining how he manages to do all this as well as work as a fire fighter in the UK.
At the album launch of Taurai Nesu at the Salvation Army Church in Leicester, UK he invited multi-award winning local gospel artist Reverend Chivaviro of the Ebenezer fame as well as Mondlane from South Africa.
"It went on very well. We delivered as we promised. Almost all CDs I had were bought and so far the response is amazing," he said.
Ngwenya also hosted a dinner at the launch and donated the proceeds to orphans.
He said he had invested a lot in the project and collaborated with nine musicians, including vocalists Rho Rho Chikaponya, Tasha Gweza and Eve Moyo on the latest album produced by Mozy Gavaza at Sounds God Studios.
He also heaped praises on Chivaviro for the assistance that he provided in the release of the album
"He has been in prayer with me, I got the ‘bestest' advice from him and I am honoured to have had him on the day, sharing the stage with him.
The message on one of the tracks on the album that promises to catch the attention of his fans is Jesu Honai, which features Kudzi Nyakudya, where he sings about the evil that is being done in the church.
"We are now grazing grass like cattle in your name, church members are eating snakes in your name, Doom yakubvisiswa madhimoni [an insect killer is being used to cast out demons]," he said.
"I'm not condemning anyone, but I was just singing to God about the reality I see and I have no answers to these things."
The other one is Baleka, a song sung in Zulu and which features Chivaviro and Mondlane, which simply says "run away with your life because the devil is chasing after you and if he catches you he will leave you in a fire."
Ngwenya's music career started while at Sunday school in the Salvation Army church, from where his brother Chaka Ngwenya later took him to the studio for the first time to record under the project called Soul Seekers.
He did three albums under the group Soul Seekers and did four as a solo career.
Ngwenya has held concerts with fellow ministers in the industry such as pastors Charles and Olivia Charamba, Mahendere Brothers, Shingisai Siluma, Baba Mechanic Manyeruke and many more, including taking part in Nguvayakwana, Red Rose and Ngaavongwe concerts.
He has shared the stage with South African artists Rebecca Malope, the late Vuyo Mokwena, Sipho Makhabane and Mondlane.
Ngwenya cherishes his experiences in Zimbabwe and regards them as the best in the ministry because they made him who he is today.
"The UK is a different world altogether and not easy because of the language barriers," he said.
l You may contact the columnist, Albert Masaka on Email: albertmasaka7@gmail.com
Source - the standard
