IS it Sister Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave or just Fungisai?
The title ‘Sister’ sounds more appropriate for a female gospel artiste, but then the pint-sized star insists, lividly, that she is no gospel-musician – just a musician.
So Fungusai the musician has been in the limelight to levels that have ‘spooked’ her, it seems.
If she was of the other colour, which is made up of mostly faint-hearted artistes, she would by now be lying on a couch, with a shrink.
The past few weeks have been stressful for the artiste.
She has become extremely popular on social media platforms, but the issue is that Fungisai must not cry-foul, scream, rant or play the victim or the abused.
From the day she made the bold declaration that she was no gospel musician, but just a musician with no limitations, she entered an arena meant only for the brave and thick-skinned.
Her threats to quit music over what she has described as cyber-bullying and playing the victim card to the hilt are just not on.
No, no, no and another no.
She cannot do that.
When she made her bold declaration she must have thought long and hard and knew what she was getting into.
She is no novice or an innocent virgin in the music arena; she is an old dog so-to-speak.
She has been around long-enough to know better, did she not say Oskid – whom she has collaborated and made waves with – was in Grade Three and listening to her chart-topping music?
Thus she knows exactly the terrain of the music world, especially the secular.
All are game and all is fair… in this territory.
In fact, I do not think Fungisai is being sincere in her threats to quit or in claiming to be a victim.
I am of the opinion she is playing the game to the best of her capabilities.
The Fungisai I know from way back is one never to whimper or back down from a fight.
I remember the gospel terrain in which she thrived was not an easy territory.
Fungisai found fame at a time when Ivy Kombo was blazing from one end, while Prince Mafukidze was also making waves at the other and in-between were artistes like Noel Zembe, Amanda Sagonda, Joyce Simeti, Jackie Madondo and many others.
It was some Wild West terrain in which one had to be tough to survive and give full rein to ambition.
One just had to depend on his/her skill and talent and not on other people for protection or shelter.
Fungisai, as a gospel starlet, quickly learnt the value of boldness and with supreme confidence, never allowed anyone to push her around.
She firmly asserted herself and for a time was the dominant force in the gospel music arena. What we are seeing is Fungisai re-inventing herself and her ‘opponents’ must be wary, she is no novice.
This is one talented artiste, who in my opinion will do everything to rise and be at the top of the pile.
I would say she has cut ties with a genre in which she made a name for herself because she was no longer the alpha and has now delved into the so-called secular music without any connections or safety net, creating these as she goes along.
And because this is her plan B in music, she is going at it with a frantic and bold energy that has her noticed.
In the entertainment world all that matters is being in the limelight.
And that is where Fungisai exactly finds herself, at the very centre of the limelight, if not for the wrong reasons.
Shed tears for Fungisai, feel sorry for her, commiserate with her, but most important is that you are thinking, discussing and talking about her.
That is a winning strategy.
Anyway, there is no good or bad publicity; it is just publicity and must be made the most of.