by Gideon Madzikatidze/Simbarashe Sithole
Gospel artists have been urged to embrace the cyberspace in order to reach a wider audience and move with times, whilst taking the platforms to make ends meet, Pastor Clyde Mutemachani of the Izodzo Choral Group has said.
Speaking during his preliminary album launch interview on the national broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s televised news programme ( Good Morning Zimbabwe), Mutemachani also bemoaned high fees and expenses involved when coming up with videos of his music genres.
“We encourage gospel artists to embrace new technologies in our efforts to drive the gospel genre forward,” Mutemachani said.
“We should utilise the cyberspace to reach out to wider audience and this culture should be both adopted and adapted by fellow gospel artists,” added Mutemachani.
“We are however faced with a challenge of lacking funds or shortage of fees charged during video shooting which forces gospel artists resorting to engage on cheaper services which ultimately results in the production of poor quality products or videos,” Mutemachani said.
Mutemachani added that most of the gospel artists do not have capacity to hire or engage renowned video production companies, hence affects their final products which is less likely to make an impact in the so competitive gospel fora.
Pastor Clyde Mutemachani will be launching his fourth much-awaited ten track hymnal album titled “Ndichauya” virtually this week, barely three days after his birthday.
Born on the 25th of April 1984 in remote Magunje (Karambazungu), Clyde Mutemachani loved gospel music and always dreamt of becoming one of finest gospel artist.
He was inspired into the gospel music genre by the former Vabati Vajehova group and therefore started his music journey specialising on hymnal songs mostly as Izodzo Choral Group in 2019, after joining the Saint John Apostolic Church of the Whole World under Bishop Dr Sydney Mabhiza.
The Izodzo Choral Group released their first seven track album titled Areka (Ark) in 2019 where Ngamera was a hit song.
In 2021 the group recorded its six track second album titled Moto Unopisa, whilst the following year (2022) they recorded their third album, Kudenga Kune Nyaya (with six tracks as well).
This year (2024), they have released a new ten track album, titled Ndichauya, featuring Kudzi Nyakudya (Hakuzi kurema).
Meanwhile, in the year 2020, the Izodzo Choral Group featured Pastor Norest Matende and Pastor Joseph Tivafire on a hym song, Ndinoshamiswa Kwazvo.
Mutemachani’s Choral Group also featured some gospel artists including Pastor Chibgape and Bishop Tavengwa.