The Standard 8 June 2014

26 THE STANDARD STYLE / FAMILY /ARTS
June 8 to 14 2014
Church plays
mbira to heal
Wellington Zimbowa
WHEN gospel music sensation,
Fungisai Zvakavapano-
Mashavave started playing
the traditional mbira instrument,
tongues went wagging especially
within the Christian community.
How could she “contaminate” her
appealing gospel message with a perceived
“pagan instrument”, which is
widely associated with traditional rites
like mabira?
But whoever thought the instrument
highly associated with traditional beliefs
of “kupira zvevadzimu” [communicating
with the dead] could be adopted
by a Christian church?
An apostolic church -- Baba Vedu
Varikudenga Apostolic Church, not
only dishes out sweet melodies through
strumming the traditional instrument,
but they use it in healing sessions.
“We use mbira as a therapy at our
church services where we summon all
the sick to the front and they sit down
while we play the instrument.
“After the first session, the sick then
receive prayers and thereafter we then
conduct another mbira healing session
where those who are healed show by
standing up, dancing and making their
way out as a way of acknowledging the
healing powers of the mbira instrument.
“Ndedze kuderedza marwadzo then
munhu ozonamatirwa (The mbira is for
alleviating or lessening the pain before
they receive prayers),” said the founder
of the church, Archbishop Gladmore
Konono who is a mbira player himself.
But the church doctrine does not forbid
its members from seeking medical
assistance from health institutions like
hospitals and clinics in extreme cases
of illness, while small illnesses such as
general body pain like headaches and
stomach aches are treated their way.
Traditionally mbira was used to
channel communication with the ancestral
spirits, but the church which
wears white robes, views it as an instrument
that also has its place in the Bible,
where they argue that it was played by
icons such as David to please God.
The soft-spoken Konono said he only
embraced Christian doctrines following
a divine revelation he received in
2006 to start his own church and also
adopt the mbira as an integral instrument
of worship.
“There is nothing wrong with playing
mbira. It is not identified by any
tribal names as it is just God’s instrument
and the scriptures rightly support
our position,” said Konono.
His church does not allow any polygamous
relationships.
The church is also heavily involved
in singing where the unique apostolic
church’s obsession with traditional instruments
can never be missed.
In 2009, they announced their arrival
on the music scene with their debut
album Mutumwa Wemasimba which
had mbira instruments while the video
came out in 2010.
Toitamba Nani? was to follow in 2011
while their latest offering, Moses Pagungwa
is currently doing well on the
airwaves.
The five-track album is in the
form of social commentary pleading
for divine intervention in people’s
day-to-day lives while also advocating
for social harmony.
Kumbirai Kuna Baba is an appeal
to God to save Zimbabwe,
while Fambai Zvakanaka calls for
co-existence in society in this journey
of life.
The songs on the albums have
various lead voices with Damson
Jaricha who was once with the Vabati
VaJehovha outfit and Godfrey
Zvenyika featuring prominently.
Another sure gem, Tichazoonana
seeks to instill hope among
Christians that after this life on
earth, joy awaits them in Heaven.
Interestingly, while Konono has
not had any music training, he
is the one who acts as a producer
for all the music from his church
group.
Upon listening to the songs,
before recording he advises on
the tunes to take, including how
instruments and audio are to be
fused or whether it is mbira or marimba
playing.
The church which is predominantly
found in rural areas, also
performed at the Harare International
Carnival recently after the
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority was
impressed by their unique fusion
of gospel music with traditional
instruments.
Archbishop Gladmore Konono
Masimba Edenga celebrate
UMC’s long road to salvation
Wellington Zimbowa
MASIMBA Edenga
-- a recognised music
group within
the United Method-
Mist Church has released an album
titled,
Ebenezer, tracing the
church’s history in Zimbabwe.
The album comes ahead of
a mega conference this August
where 30 000 congregants are
expected to converge for a threeday
conference at the National
Sports Stadium.
Going with the Biblical mean-
ing of Ebenezer [God has taken
us this far], the 12-track album
which starts by a universal call
to the August conference while
narrating UMC’s establishment
in Zimbabwe, resonates well
with all other Christians, as
messages of hope, steadfastness
in Christian work and need for
peaceful co-existence take centre
stage.
“We are celebrating 117 years
of missionary work in Zimbabwe
where we have managed to
make an impact in society.
“Preaching the word of God
and getting people to know God
is in itself an achievement but
we have gone beyond that, mak-
ing a mark in education and
health-care provision together
with other social services delivery,”
said Super Takodza, one of
the band leaders.
He also revealed that the
album is set to be promoted
around the country while the
group will also tour South Africa
and Botswana as their album
is a vehicle to promote the
upcoming conference.
“We are happy that this is a
great milestone for the church
since it came to Zimbabwe from
South Africa some 117 years ago.
So with this album we are saying,
this is the long road that
God has taken us through and it
is actually a celebration of this
milestone.
“We are going to use the same
platform to market one of new
albums, Jehovha Samasimba,
said Misheck Mukumire.
Delegates to the conference
are expected from the two countries
to be toured as well as Zambia
and the United Kingdom.
Sure favourites on the album
– which is already receiving
good airplay on most of the
country’s leading radio stations
-- are Mwari Baba Mune Nyasha,
which gives glory to God for his
abundant love for mankind.
Fambai Majoni is a call to
Christians not to wither in the
face of hardships which, though
inevitable, should not be distruction
in a Christian’s call to
spread the word of God.
The motivational lyrics are
richly-laced with a perfect blend
of traditional instruments, including
the drum.
Led by Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa,
the UMC is one of the oldest
churches in the country with
its stronghold being in Mutare,
home to renowned Africa University,
which is its affiliate.
The album Ebenezer came
about after the church’s Zimbabwe
Episcopal Area commissioned
Masimba to record it
ahead of the church conference.
“It is our role as musicians
to spread the word of God and
we are urging all Zimbabweans
to come and join in the celebrations
from August 15 to 17,” said
one the group leaders, Stanley
Gombakomba.
The group rose to fame in early
2000 with their platinum albums,
Mazambara Volume 1 and
2, stealing the hearts of many.
They have performed at numerous
state functions including national
galas.