The Sunday Mail
Mupostori Wency ready for launch
UPCOMING gospel musician Wencilus Makungisa, better known as Mupostori Wency, is assuring fireworks to those who will attend his live DVD recording to be held at 7 Arts Theatre in Harare on February 27.
A member of ZimPraise Choir, Mupostori Wency is well-known for his performance of “Musandikanganwe” and his famous song “Mvura Yakawanda”.
The live recording will be his second album and is titled “Experiencing the Love of God”. It is a 15-rack album with songs like “Simba RaMwari” and “Mwari Ariko”.
“I am inspired by the Word and love of God. I see things around and I connect it to the Word of God and what it says about the situation. My song ‘Mvura Yakawanda’ talks about not only the natural rain but spiritual rain and receiving God.
“Mwari ariko is a song to let people know that God is there because there are certain times when people encounter problems and they think God is not there but this song stands out to say your situation does not compromise God’s position.”
Mupostori Wency’s live recording will be supported by the likes of Mathias Mhere, Bethany Pasinawako, Ellard Charaya, Sharon Manyonganise, ZimPraise and Unity Apostolic Choir.
He started his music career in 2003 when he featured on Bethan Pasinawako and Sebastine Magacha’s albums as a backing vocalist.
Pastor juggles ministry, music
PASTOR Joshua Kawara, popularly known as Pr Josh Kays, of Global Word Ministries plans to launch his fourth album entitled “Aripano” early next month at the IT Centre in Harare.
The album carries eight worship songs.
Pr Josh released a single titled “Jesu aripano” in 2013 and has been number one on Star FM Gospel Greats for 16 weeks; while also claiming position six on last year’s Top 50 Hits.
Kirk Franklin wins Grammy
Some of Christian music’s biggest names won at the 2016 Grammy Awards that aired Monday night, including TobyMac and Israel Houghton in the Gospel and Christian music categories.
Gospel music’s trailblazer Kirk Franklin took home the award for Best Gospel Performance/Song for the single “Wanna Be Happy?”
This win marks Franklin’s eighth Grammy Award.
Along with Israel & NewBreed, those who went up against Franklin in the same category included Anthony Brown & Group Therapy, Travis Greene, and Brian Courtney Wilson.
Taking home the award for the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album was Christian music pioneer TobyMac for “This is Not a Test”. This win marks the 51-year-old’s third career Grammy Award. His album “Alive and Transported” won for Best Rock Gospel Album in 2009 and “Eye On It” was also named as the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album of 2013.
Joining the night of winners was worship leader Israel Houghton, who won the award in the Best Gospel Album category for Israel & New Breed’s live album “Covered: Alive in Asia”.
Houghton was also nominated in the Best Gospel Performance/Song for the live rendition of the song “How Awesome is Our God,” which featured Yolanda Adams.
Rounding out the winners for the Gospel and Christian categories for the 2016 Grammy Awards’ were The Fairfield Four. The group won the category Best Roots Gospel Album with their album “Still Rockin’ My Soul”.
With a lasting career in the music industry, The Fairfield Four have existed for over 90 years. They started as a trio in Nashville, Tennessee’s Fairfield Baptist Church in 1921, but the first time they received a Grammy Award was in 1997 for the song “I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray,” and won again in 1998 for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album. — Christian Post
Tuku spurs Diva Mafunga higher
Desire Ncube
FORGOTTEN gospel music artiste Diva Mafunga has described Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi as the most humble artiste in the land after he featured on his latest album “Ndatenda Ndapinda”.
The superstar featured on “Munana Wekutanga” and “Kutenda Kusina Mabasa”.
The two songs are part of Mafunga’s new seven-track album recorded last year at Diamond studios.
“I approached Tuku with this project because he has come out in the open and said he loves my music. He agreed to feature and put serious effort in the studio, I feel honoured and I do not have words that can explain my joy,” said Mafunga in a telephone interview.
“I was glad to know that Tuku loves my music and I decided to engage him, I feel very honoured to have worked with him and I thank him for his humility. That motivated me to plan for this collaboration,” he added. Mafunga, based in Plumtree, said “Ndatenda Ndapinda” was better-timed than his previous album “Zvangu Zvaita”, which did not make much of an impact on the market.
Currently, “Munana Wekutanga” is the most voted for song on Star FM Gospel.
On the duets, Tuku also played the acoustic guitar.
Mafunga believes his latest album is likely to take him to a higher level than the standard he set with his popular release “Endai Naizvozvo”.
On “Munana Wekutanga” Mafunga says the first miracle that God performs to everyone is giving life. He says it is by God’s grace that one wakes up well every morning because a lot happens at night and many people have died in their sleep.
Tuku’s backing gives emphasis to the theme and the way the musicians vocally complement each other gives the track a serious appeal.
“I have been in the industry for a long time and I had done some hits but I have confidence that this album will surpass all them all,” said Mafunga about his seventh album.
“The number ‘seven’ symbolises perfection, and to me this is a perfect piece that God inspired me to record,” said the 42-year-old musician.
Mafunga’s previous albums are “Endai Naizvozvo”, “Fambai Nokutenda”, “Pfuurirai Mberi”, “Ndicharamba Ndichidana”, “Spiritual Battle” and “Zvangu Zvaita.”
