IT is not every day that you get hardcore secular musicians crossing the divide to gospel music.
Some people say it usually takes a near death experience for these switches to happen.
Many will remember Jonasi Kasamba for lighting up most of Alick Macheso’s shows with his inimitable chanting that include the timeless ‘Kochekera’ and ‘Zora Butter’ chants.
For more than a decade he served the sungura maestro before deciding to leave Orchestra Mberikwazvo outfit with other band members to form their own band Extra Kwazvose Band dubbed the ‘rebels’.
However, the group, before long, split due to power struggles.
Some of the rebels tried to return to Macheso who was not eager to welcome them back into the fold.
Now Kasamba and Obert Gomba have gone gospel.
Shocking, but yes, they are now into gospel music.
These two have joined Extra Afrique, a gospel ensemble led by controversial music producer Lytton Ngolomi who is also husband to musician Bethany Pasinawako.
But is this the place for Kasamba and Gomba?
Have the two found the light.
Is the gospel ensemble which is quite young a true haven for Kasamba and Gomba and will they last the distance or they are seeking a place of respite while they plot their next move.
Kasamba and Gomba insist that they are done with singing and performing in secular circles.
The artistes said they now want to perform for their Creator.
Kasamba in particular rubbished claims that career wise, he had hit rock bottom and was desperate.
“There are many groups that have come knocking seeking my services, but I am just not interested,” said the chanter.
Gomba echoed the same sentiments and said he no longer wanted to perform in secular circles.
Beyond doubt the two have had a rough time in secular music, after abandoning Macheso they realised that the grass was not so green and readily available.
And the gospel arena which is associated with peace and tranquillity and a different type of audience definitely has an irresistible allure.
Others are questioning their authenticity bearing in mind that raunchy dancer and singer ‘Bev’ Sibanda misled the nation not so long ago by claiming to have been born again because barely three months down the line, the dirty dancer was back to her old ways.
Bev had apparently joined Walter Magaya’s Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries.
As for Kasamba, he has maintained in the church, chants like ‘Kochekera’ and ‘Zora Butter’ which made him famous in secular circles.
“If he is serious about gospel he must come up with new stuff that is appropriate for us church people,” said a member of the audience who experienced Kasamba’s performance at a Glad Tidings Church service on Sunday.
“Or maybe he is taking his ‘new job’ for granted; hence he is not being creative anymore because there seems to be less pressure.”
Kasamba admits that times are hard, but not just for him, but everyone in the music industry.
His foray into the gospel arena, he said, was not unusual as his career began in church.
“I am going back to my roots, I realised my talent in church at the age of 15,” he said.
Kasamba who came to Zimbabwe in 1994 from the DRC with a group called’Super Kay’ together with ‘Gift Katulika known as ‘Shiga Shiga’ who is Peter Moyo’s chanter rose to stardom when he chanted for ‘Kanda Bongoman’ in 1996.
He then established himself as a musician in the country and got married to Ndaizivei Kagungwe.
He joined Macheso in 1999 and worked for him until his departure in 2013.
The father of six who resides in Unit L Chitungwiza believes that his newly found home will jolt his career and is currently working on a new album with Pasinawako.
Only time will tell whether Kasamba and Gomba’s are truly born again, music-genre wise.