The Sunday Mail
Pastor Richard Dube
Desire Ncube
ALTHOUGH some businesses are currently struggling to stay afloat, the gospel music industry, as usual, has seen some artists soldiering on and producing classy pieces in their quest to spread the gospel.
One such individual is musician and vocalist Pastor Richard Dube who dropped his ten-track debut album, ‘Level-go-Change’ in Harare yesterday.
Pastor Dube is a rare breed in the genre. His album, which was co-produced by David Sengwayo of ‘Whereitsat Studios’ and Eloy Mangoro of ‘Shout Studios, is a fusion of afro-jazz, rhumba and worship songs.
The tracks ‘Vanomirira Jehova’, ‘Munamatei’, and the title track ‘Level -go-Change’ are sure to make an impact on the local charts.
The Sunday Mail Religion recently caught up with Pastor Dube.
“I started singing while I was at Frank Johnson Primary School with the likes of Passionate Praise front man and soloist Wellington Kwenda and producer-cum-vocalist McDonald Chidavaenzi who was a stream ahead. Back then, I remember we had our group called ‘Love, Peace and Joy’ where we would sing,” said the pastor.
“When I was in Form One I then joined a group called “Keep Hope Alive” which was a children’s choir founded by Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe leader, Bishop Trevor Manhanga.
‘‘While I was there I worked with the likes of Pastor Prince “Mwana waMambo” Mafukidze and Prudence Katombeni–Mbofama.
“During this time, I got inspired and I realised my calling because l used to be given the platform to perform,” said Pastor Dube.
Pastor Dube said that his United Kingdom-based friend, Eloy Mangoro assisted him record his first song in 2007.
“This album is my first, but prior to it I had recorded two singles in 2007 entitled ‘Munamatei’ and ‘Your Name’ with the assistance of Eloy Mangoro who is now based in UK.
‘‘When he left (Mangoro), I was discouraged because he was the only person who understood me musically and he used to encouraged me a lot. I then decided to shelve the songs until last year when God visited me again and I recorded the other eight tracks,” said the 29-year-old who is married to Rutendo Rudo.
Pastor Dube said ‘Vanomirira Jehova’ has been receiving overwhelming airplay, probably an indication that his targeted audience is falling in love with his work.
“The song ‘Vanomirira Jehova’ which I recorded last year had been on the Star FM Gospel Greats for 13 weeks.
‘‘This encouraged me to release this album.
“Gospel music is inherent in me. Well I was born in a musical family, my father used to be a music teacher and all my siblings are good singers. You may know of Sam Dube who plays instruments for a number of musicians, he also is my brother,” Pastor Dube said.
Pastor Dube said his spiritual father, Bishop Tudor Bismark inspired him to come up with the title of his debut album ‘Level-go-Change’.
“I wrote the song ‘Level-go-Change’ while I was in church. My father Bishop Bismark had just returned from Nigeria and his first sermon was so invigorated. Vakauya vari pahasha. He was preaching on how things in life can change and I just took a pen and started penning the lyrics of the song, which I later decided to be the title song,” explained Pastor Dube.
He leads a seven member band called ‘Worship Epistles’ and has previously worked with ZimPraise choir and the Call to Worship team among other local gospel artists.
