Fungisai’s music matures

Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave, just like wine, is maturing with age. If her latest offering — Social Facts — is anything to go by, then she has capped a notch on the gospel music radar. Social Facts, her ninth album, addresses social issues and affirms her status as a serious contender to the gospel queendom.

Zvakavapano-Mashavave has shown her deep desire to create music that cuts across social structures and ages. The arrangement of instruments is top-class, very deliberate and precise. Her voice is delivered with a mastery that has been a trademark over her previous eight albums.

The six-track album depicts the society from a Christian’s perspective tackling social issues such as marriages as well as celebrating life in general. The six-track album features both renowned and rising artistes adding value to the project with their voices which blended well with the Vanogona singer.

The album carries songs like  Super Power/Mwari Aripano, Gore Rapera; I know my Destiny, Wedding Bells, Jesu Ndomuda and Zuva Rabuda. It opens with the song Mwari Aripano that features the poet Albert Nyathi. The track speaks about God’s omnipresence, being the one who brings people together in his love, peace and harmony.

The song also encourages Christians to be courageous when faced with challenges. The listener is assured that he/she might give up on God, but he will never give up on them. The song Wedding Bells mirrors the mental processes of a bride’s mother on a wedding day encouraging newly-weds to anchor their marriage on Christian principles as marriage is not a fairy tale. Hip Hop artist, Mudiwa Hood, adds a rap flavour to the song. The track describes marriage as a beautiful experience for which every mother wishes for their daughters though it has its highs and lows.

Track five Jesu Ndomuda features South African songbird Buhle Mahlangulela. In the song, Zvakavapano-Mashavave gives emphasis on the importance of positive rebuke among brethren based on the common goal for Christians which is to love Christ and ultimately make it to heaven.

Gore Rapera features contemporary reggae crowner Jah Prayzah (real name Mukudzei Mukombe). It is a Christmas and New Year dancing song that praises the Almighty for the gift of life at the same time asking for his guidance in the New Year.

The last track on the album is Zuva Rabuda which reminds people that time waits for no man and procrastination is the thief of time. Zvakavapano-Mashavave has however, said being a woman in the music industry has not been that easy for her.

“There is a lot of ridicule, misjudgement, marginalisation and discrimination. It is a challenge, the way female artistes have to go an extra mile, just to prove their competence,” she said.

“Despite all these challenges, one has to be strong and soldier on to make it into this male dominated industry.”