The Sunday Mail
SOCIETY remains harsh on female gospel artistes as evidenced by songbird Fungisai Mashavave’s recent experiences, Pastor Carol Mujokoro has said.
A pioneer of gospel music having started in the genre in 1984, Pr Mujokoro has over the years climbed the ladder to become the international director of music at Zimbabwe Assemblies of God-Foward In Faith church.
Pr Mujokoro said insults hurled at Mashavave over her choice to collaborate with secular musicians proved how society judged women and men differently.
“From what I have read and heard, I don’t think male counterparts would be treated the same. However I am not privy to the goings on except what I read in the papers. What is important for gospel musicians is for one to fulfil the purpose of his or her calling. No one knows what assignment was given to a pastor or gospel artiste. It is between him/her and God alone,” Pr Mujokoro said.
On how gospel artistes have been shunned by some promoters, Pr Mujokoro said, “A few artistes are engaged by promoters. Most gospel artistes find their own way and promote their own music, organising shows on their own.
“This is the major reason why gospel musicians always find it difficult to make it to the top. Even companies always engage secular musicians for their functions and company parties. A few gospel musicians are engaged the same way.”
Pr Mujokoro, who rocked the airwaves with a generation that had icons like Ivy Kombo and Jackie Madondo, said it had not been easy for her to break into gospel music.
“The industry was dominated by males, and also society didn’t accept female musicians easily. At the moment we have so many female gospel musicians who have done well for their careers, they are doing everything professionally and not as a part time hobby.
“When I started there were very few gospel artistes then. It was easy for the music to be heard as there were very few gospel artistes. During that time, the music was limited in terms of style.
“You could not hear a local gospel song done as a rap, R ‘n’ B, hip–hop or dancehall song. The music was slow tempered and soothing.
“But these days the youngsters are not afraid to try anything. Also those days you could quickly identify Zimbabwean songs. These days some of the music is also influenced so much by South African styles. You cannot easily tell if the song is Zimbabwean or South African until maybe you hear the name of the singer,” Pr Mujokoro said.
Pr Mujokoro has 12 albums to her credit, among them “Mufudzi Wangu”, “Vimba naJehovah”, “NdiMwari Baba”, “Jehovah Wakanaka” and “Champions”. She also has two videos titled “The Holy Land (Ngatimunamte)” and “Nditungamirei”.
Pr Mujokoro said her duties involved sharing the vision of Archbishop Ezekiel Guti.
“My duties also involve working with church musicians and getting to also learn from them. As a pastor, I am also not always available and free to do my own things as my work at the church also dictates what I can do and when.”
Married and with four children, Pr Mujokoro said it was not easy being a wife, pastor, mother and musician.
“There are challenges associated with that. One has to do her best to balance that. I try to give every area the attention it deserves. There are times I have been away from my family occupied by the work of God. It is the Lord who makes it happen,” she said.
Pr Mujokoro is working on her 13th audio album, “Carol Mujokoro Live in X-Trim Worship”. The album was recorded live on February 5 and a release date will be announced soon.
“I would like to thank those who have supported and stood by me from 1984 when I started singing before church congregations. There are special people who have stood by me and have all the original albums.
“There are people who won’t buy counterfeit copies but they always look for the originals. The reason is that they understand that they have to buy to support the artiste so that the music continues coming. Supporting the pirates means music will stop as artistes won’t be able to fund their work.
“May the good Lord continue blessing you, remember to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and everything else will be added as said in Matthew 6:33,” Pr Mujokoro said.
