By Desire Tshuma
In a first in Zimbabwean music industry history, Blessing Muroti Gomo’s launch of a triple album in Harare left fans mesmerised and clamouring for more.
It was fireworks at Christ Unveiling Ministries church in the central business district of Harare where the Muroti Movement launched triple albums at once in a highly attended event that was supported by multiple music celebrities and media practitioners including the ZBC radio news anchors.
”I am glad today that we have finally managed to launch our albums. We were delayed to launch due to this COVID 19 pandemic that forced the whole world to suspend all public gatherings. With the relaxation of Covid 19 conditions we have taken the opportunity to do the launch under strict Covid -19 conditions,” said Gomo.
He went further and urged other artists to engage in businesses so as not to depend on music alone as many artists were impoverished by the COVID 19 lockdowns.
”Invest in other businesses even the smaller ones like tuckshops. Artists are similar to any other people. You should not depend on the stage only so that you can manage to survive even during such hard times that we had encountered during the total lockdown conditions,” Gomo urged other artists.
Three albums that were launched by Blessing Gomo and the Anointed Singers are ”Mukombe Wezodzo” which is a sungura genre, ”Check my Record, Jazz and Delete which is a piece of gospel music.
Romeo Gasa was the curtain-raiser before the highly energetic Blessing Gomo and the Anointed Singers band took over. Scores of fans including his church members screamed with joy when he got on to the stage to perform.
On a disturbing note, Gomo’s father who is also a mbira artist didn’t manage to attend the event due to some health complications but had his latest mbira song played for the fans to feel the taste of it.
Blessing Gomo’s albums were sold to the highest bidder to the tune of US$9000 by his business colleague. Other pledges came from his fans, fellow congregants, and family members. Other fans bought the music using foreign currency like South African Rands while others paid in kind using cows and goats.
Among the artists who supported the launch was Matthias Mhere, Romeo Gasa, Dorcas Moyo, Trymore Bande, Mr Flavour and Sandra Chirenje.
”We are very excited to launch today three albums at once and this had never ever happened in the history of Zimbabwean music. We are the first group to do this and we are very happy with the support that our fans have shown us and we promise our fans that we are going to launch other albums soon before the end of the year 2021,” said Mr. Matanda, the Band manager.