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If Blessing Shumba is not the man of the moment, then he is the man of eternity.
The gospel thoroughbred’s latest album “Holy Psalms Vol 1: NdiJesu” will not only spread devotional shockwaves but also immortalise him as one of the best psalmists ever to emerge from the country.
“Holy Psalms,” Shumba’s fourth offering after “NdiMwari” (2008), “Ishe Wazvose” (2011) and “Shongwe” (2012), carries a wholesome spiritual diet and can easily pass for an audio Bible.
The album carries eleven tracks including hit songs “Kutenda Chii?”, “Nyaradzai Vanhu,” “Usachemachema,” “Kuchengeta Murawo.”
“Chimwe Nechimwe” was one of the big hits on 2014 charts.
“Chimwe Nechimwe” was one of the big hits on 2014 charts.
This time Shumba enlisted Olin Anderson of Kunashe Studios and Charles Aibeki of Divine Records as producers.
Clancy Mbirimi, a former member of the old school Harare Mambos, mastered the album at Metro Studios. Shumba’s wife Pauline joined him on vocals while Dumisani Manyange, Confidence Mucharufuka and Joseph Makiwa took turns on instruments.
New artists Rumbi Gatawa, Tamuka Maroodza and Ellen Anderson featured on “Nyaradzai Vanhu,” “Chikuru Rudo” and “Mapisarema” respectively which is commendable on Shumba’s part following his work with Mansah in 2012.
Established gospel artists must consider more collaborations with upcoming artists.
The award-winning “Mufaro” hitmaker told Christian Entertainment that while it is up to the audience to rate the album, he believes that the album is his most mature project so far.
“‘Holy Psalms’ resembles the vision that God gave us. It is the best we have done so far. We took our time and we had grown to understand some of the dos and don’ts of the ministry. We were also able to take control of various aspects we could not handle prior to this project,” Shumba said.
The popular artist’s best accomplishment on this project is in making righteousness palatable. He transplants the scriptures liberally throughout the album – Proverbs 23, Hebrews 11, Job 4, Ecclesiastes 3, Isaiah 40, I Corinthians 13, Matthew 5 – as if to knock holiness into the most hardened hearts.
If the psychologists’ observation that the rational hemisphere of the brain has little gate-keeping capacity over messages received in the form of music is anything to go by, then Shumba’s “audio Bible” will prove a potent evangelistic device.
“We pray a lot as we plan to record the same way we prepare sermons and teachings for the pulpit. We always use the same approach we use for pastoral music when composing psalms,” Shumba said.
Shumba, who doubles up as a pastor with Christ Fellowship Ministries, said he manages smooth multi-tasking because bookings are normally confined to Saturdays.
“The Holy Spirit gave us able companions in the ministry so balancing the stage and the pulpit is not a problem. The challenge is being worthy of our calling all the time regardless of which platform we are using,” he said.
Shumba also credited for worship ethic pioneer Zimbabwean gospel legends Jordan Chataika and Brian Sibalo.
“Their music was our daily bread at home. Whatever the family went through when we could not preach to each other, the works of these great men of God would see us through. Brian’s music always leads me to prayer. I hope the current crop of gospel musicians will take us to that level,” Shumba said.
Speaking on new trends in the gospel music fraternity, where many artists are now breaking away from conservatism, Shumba said it is important for Christian artists to be tolerant and avoid judging fellow ministers.
“We must be tolerant lest we lose what God wants to transmit to us through them. We must be supportive and give each other time to learn but it’s also important for us not adopt everything,” he said.
A lot has been said about the similarity of his music with Mathias Mhere and fans have consistently compared them since Mhere stormed the arena with “Anoita Minana” in 2012.
“I always thought that it was an unfortunate scenario but one that was unavoidable. We are part of an industry where secular artists have to be rivals bent on out-competing each other,” Shumba said.
“However, we as gospel artists are fellow workers for God. I hope our listeners get to read 1 Corinthians 3: 5-11 to place the issue in biblical perspective once and for all.
“People say that our music is the same but I feel the difference. God cannot duplicate the same thing. We may be preaching to the same people at the same time but each of us has a different assignment,” he said.
Speaking on his parting ways with producer Lyton Ngolomi and backing vocalist Bethany Pasinawako-Ngolomi who were a key part of his entourage, Shumba said he assembled a new group because he thought it unnecessary to divide Christians.
“Mathias is talented and with humility and faith he will go very far. I actually know very little about him unlike what people say (about them sharing jail time before Shumba came out first and released songs they had worked on together) I only got to know him after the release of his ‘Favour’ album,” Shumba said.
The Mutare-based psalmist said his career blossomed at an early age, when his family’s choral group would compose songs outside the hymnal for presentation every Sunday.
