Mechanic Manyeruke, arguably Zimbabwe’s most experienced gospel musician, is back with album number 25. Titled, Muchandiziva Here, the album carries eight tracks that exhibit the musician’s experience and maturity. The album maintains the musician’s unique flavour and Manyeruke says he will keep the beat that made him a household name.
“I maintain that same beat because I know what I want and I am not going to be wayward and follow the wind because of changing trends and genres. I want to be original,” said Manyeruke. “Of course music might be dynamic but if one has a vision the changes will be artistically fused into the original beat in a way that does not dilute it.” Manyeruke says the title of the album was inspired by the biblical experience of Joseph, who was persecuted by his family and sold away only to come back and save the same family from a serious famine.
“The person they sold to the Canaanites is different from the one that finally rescued them and the question that he should have asked is: ‘Do you still remember me?’ “Because he had grown older and had become prosperous they failed to recognise him and that is the same gospel on this album.”
He said even though he has maintained the same flavour, there is a new gospel that he is preaching on the fresh album.
In the first song Manyeruke urges Christians to remain steadfast to their denominations and stop following miracle-performers because God is the same. Titled Ende Ende Dzoke, the song explores the trend that is common among believers nowadays which has seen many flocking to self-proclaimed prophets. The second song Garai Zvakanaka implores people to live peacefully in their communities according to God’s desire.
Other songs on the album are Mwari Wakanaka, Jesu Wamuka, Mwari Wangu Muripiko, Josefa Wave Mambo, Siyabonga Baba and Zvandaiwa Mutadzi. Manyeruke who, of late, has not been in the limelight says he now mainly concentrates on church functions.
“These days we now play at church functions like crusades, revivals and a few other shows that we are engaged by promoters.” Recently he toured the United States where Christian community in New York, led by radio personality Chaka Ngwenya, honoured the veteran musician with an award for outstanding service through music.
Manyeruke’s artist and repertoire manager, Stanley Ruzive of Gramma Records who are marketing the album, said they were happy that Manyeruke had come back with another offering. “It is a wonderful feeling to have a veteran musician like Manyeruke. What is more interesting about his music is that he has maintained his beat and maintained his roots as evidenced by this album. One or two things may have changed but it is the sound that you can identify him with,” said Ruzive.
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