The Sunday Mail
Desire Ncube
South African based gospel musician Phineas Phiri is currently enjoying his moments in the musical world, sharing the stage with renowned international artists like R–Kelly, Joe Thomas, Com Owen and Anthony Hamilton.
He has also collaborated with South African Ringo Madlingozi and award-winning gospel songbird Winnie Mashaba on the song Letlotlo.
Having migrated down South in 2008, Phiri also performs at corporate functions.
Due to his hard work, he was appointed tourism ambassador for the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district in South Africa.
The Klerksdorp-based musician said he is now on a mission to ensure his music tops the local charts.
“I have achieved a lot in terms of music in South Africa and now my focus is to gain ground back home,” said Phiri in a telephone interview.
True to his word, his song ‘Tenzi Huyai’ which is from his second album is already on the Star FM Gospel Greats top 20 chart.
“God is great. His ways are not ours. As I was busy devising strategies on how best to bring my music home, God intervened in a major way, through the Star FM charts show and I am really humbled,” said the 31-year-old musician.
“Soon I am coming back with some South African musicians and I can confirm that a number of my shows and concerts will be lined up countrywide,” Phiri added.
Phiri was born in Kwekwe and attended Torwood and Batanai primary and secondary schools respectively.
While at church and schools, Phiri would sing in the choir groups.
Commending him for his work, Phiri’s manager Sabata Lechema said he was glad to witness the musician writing his own piece of rich history.
“He is just talented and I don’t think I can have enough words to describe the joy, you know how it feels to support a winning team.
‘‘There is hardly a public gathering in Dr Kenneth Kaunda district area in the North West province of South Africa that misses him on the list of entertainers. This shows how popular the man has become,” Sabata said.
Phiri released his first 12-track album, ‘Chimwemwe’, (a Nyanja word for joy) in 2010, which was a fusion of Shona, SeTswana, Chewa, English and isiXhosa languages.
He launched his second album ‘In Time’ in South Africa this year, which he claims was well received by a legion of fans.
