The Zimbabwe gospel music industry has been recording few female musicians who rose to fame and persisted to the purple patch, with music producers and analysts claim that lack of mentorship, inflexible working environments, lack of support, social media attacks and financial constraints have resulted in women lagging behind and vanish away from the scene.
However, with all these reasons, some upcoming female musicians have kept their fingers crossed that one day they will break the barrier and represent the Zimbabwean flag very well.
In an interview with ZimGospel Masters magazine, one of the upcoming gospel musicians Ripai “Mai Ngoni” Pedzi, has encouraged all women in the music industry to invest more in learning from successful female figures saying that for one to be successful in the game, swimming in the pool of advice and drinking from the fountain of expertise are the roadmap to success.
“As an upcoming musician, I know that there are challenges that are there in the music industry but I told myself that learning from successful female musicians is the way to go. By learning and emulating from them, we become stronger and we gain experience every day. I want to encourage all upcoming gospel musicians to thrive for excellence and to have a heart that desires to learn and sometimes if you get an opportunity to interact with successful musicians at personal level, please utilize such moments to catch the nuggets of it,” she said
Ripai Pedzi has so far released one eight-track album titled “Ngonidzashe” and one single track since her inception in 2019.
One of the successful Mutare-based female gospel diva, Dorcas Moyo, who exponentially rose to stardom encouraged her female colleagues in the industry to work very hard, believe in themselves and take criticism and social media attacks as their propellers towards success.
“While the challenges that stare women in music are insurmountable they can be overcome, as a female artist one need to be at the best of their behavior. Women are susceptible to an avalanche forms of abuse. It takes on who has a solid moral footing to thrive.
“Furthermore gender only describes sex and does not put limits to one’s art. It is important for one to defy the stereotypes encapsulated in the music industry and glide to uncharted waters. Focus and self-belief also helps in achieving your goals. One has to grow a thick skin and learn to take criticism and digital battering progressively, be who you are and don’t get under the wings of someone else as this might bar you from soaring frenzy heights. Consistency and more consistency in prayer and more prayers, hard work and more hard work this cocktail will surely take you somewhere, “said Moyo
Some of the female gospel musicians who elevated to big brands in the industry include Janet Manyowa, Shingisai Suluma, Olinda Marowa, Mercy Mutsvene, Mai Olivia Charamba and Nyasha Mutonhori, Sharon Cherayi and Rudo Madindi among others.
