Award- winning artist- cum Gender Activist, Nyaradzo Mashayamombe has released a 15 track album titled Zvatiri, launched last week at the Zimbabwe German Society where she promised a touch of class for the audience.
By Edward Makuzva
Over the years Mashayamombe has risen up and has been known to the Zimbabwean community more as a Human rights and Social Justice Activist focusing more on the rights of girls and young women.
She founded the NGO, TaLI five years ago where she is the Executive Director.
The Gender Activist said it took her a couple of years to come back to the studio because she has been busy making the world a safe place for girls.
“The album Zvatiri, was inspired by her long reflection of what it means to be an African, a black woman or man, a black African Child.
“Zvatiri reflected on the temptation for Africans to feel inadequate when it comes to their forms of worship, their horse voices, often the big sized women who are blessed with curves, the dark chocolate skin which the African woman has been made to be ashamed of and of note being the thousands of young women who are skin bleaching”, Mashayamombe explained.
She said the album reflects on African instruments of worship including Mbira” which is often mistaken for a demonic by those who do not understand the culture and appreciation of the African Diversity.
“Zvatiri, which is translated to mean ‘Who We Are’, reinforces the fact that Africans are created the way they are for the Glory of God.
“The way they worship and every instrument they use is beautiful in the eyes of God and is a sweet aroma to his nostrils, African children should never apologise for who they are but boldly stand and take their place in the world showing what their Lord gave them”, said Mashayamombe.
The album has a strong presence of Zimbabwe Traditional Jazz, Afro pop and a bit of House Music. It ranges from Gospel, to social issues as well as love. To note on this album is a Poem entitled Africa, which acknowledges the African Independence and yet questions the reasons why African nations have remained poor.
She challenges poor governance in the African nations which has exposed many to vulnerabilities and encourages the leaders and African young people to emancipate themselves and to rise.
The album carries songs such as Mhepo yedenga, Ndirarame, Ndokudavo, Ndosimudzire, Wakagara mugariro wakaipa Happy Day and Hakuna.
The gender activist explores a number of issues through this album.
Mashayamombe explores and employs young and old people to rise and work hard in one of the tracks called Wakagara(mugariro wakaipa).
‘Ndosimudzire’ which is a house track which will minister to many but at the same time with a youthful groove that can be relevant to any happy situation including church functions, parties and graduations.
Happy Day talks about the beauty of an African love story especially rural setup. Hakuna is one track that many gospel lovers will have a hard time to let go or to remove from the top charts as it is bound to minister to people.
Nyaradzo is very clear that, her musical talent is one of the vehicles that she uses to advance Human Rights especially Girls and Young womens’ rights. Inspired by International stars such as Angelique Kidjo who have excelled in both their quest for human rights and also music, Nyaradzo is confident that this international music which she has created in this album will open up more doors for her to advocate for the rights of girls and young women nationally, regionally and internationally.
“Every revolution has mainly been won where music and advocacy has been mixed” she said. The liberation wars were inspired and sustained by keeping the morale high through music. Governments and politicians have won campaigns through music, it means music can change things, it can reach the hearts of men, and this is exactly what Nyaradzo intends to do, use her music to further advance the rights of young people!
On this album is a track called ‘Cry’ which she released in June this year, which features the late Chiwoniso Maraire. They talk about the circumstances in which girls are sexually abused or married off young ending up in child abuse called child marriages.
It is her wish that you find ZVATIRI soothing; healing, encouraging, giving hope, building confidence and that Nyaradzo’s life may itself encourage
