Bulawayo rising artist revels in victory
Patience Moyo
BULAWAYO – Christabel Ncube Zvakavapano, an upcoming gospel artist based in Bulawayo is savouring the moment and grateful for winning the Anchored Gospel Community Doncaster Music competition.
The competition was held by AGC Doncaster Christmas Music Online in its bid to educate and empower young artists by providing a platform upon which they can showcase their talents.
“It was a ground breaker because the organisation paid for everything, from recording my song to mastering it, signing up online as an artist and also launching the song. I don’t think I would have managed to push myself that far alone. AGC Doncaster really came through for me,” said a beaming Zvakavapano.
Christabel intimated that being brought up in a Christianized family with a rich musical background propelled her towards the gospel genre and that her affinity for music helped drive her into the music industry. She believes that music is a way of spreading the word of God.
Zvakavapano also attributed her budding success to a strong religious background. She revealed that she has been singing from a tender age in her church choir.
The AGC Doncaster champion dropped her first single on the 4th of June 2021 and she has been receiving rave reviews and positive feedback from the fans.
“The feedback is massive. People were blessed by the song and a lot of people are inquiring about streaming platforms and online stores where they can purchase the song. YouTube views of the song have gone up in a space of a week. I’ve also had people from outside the country listening to and enjoying the song,” said Zvakavapano.
The AGC winner spelled out a number of challenges faced by musicians in the industry.
“The usual challenges we face include a lack of financial support and of course a dearth of support from fellow artists in the industry. Moreover, the arts industry is not taken seriously so people don’t always jump in to support you. So gaining significant backing from fans and fellow musicians takes a lot of time and effort,” she added.
The new normal due to the Covid-19 pandemic has stalled Christabel’s development as a musician because she has not managed to perform at a physical launch event for her single. She had planned for live concerts launch but had to settle for a virtual launch.
