SOUTH AFRICA
Rebbeca Mlope
Rebbeca Mlope
Rebecca Malope is a South African gospel singer who rose to international stardom in the late '90s. Malope was born on a tobacco farm in South Africa. As a child, she and her sisters sang hymns in a local church. She joined a gospel group in her teens, which led her to Johannesburg. She eventually was brought to the attention of producer Zizwe Zakho, who had Malope record a large variety of material, from disco and pop to love ballads and gospel. Her records became popular in South Africa and soon she recorded an entire album of gospel songs, to satiate the desire of both herself and her fans. The gospel record was so wellreceived; she decided to devote her career to South African gospel. In 1996, she released her first American record. The following year, she signed with the EMI subsidiary Hemisphere and released Free At Last: South African Gospel in November. She supported the album with a tour. (Source: Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide)
website at www.rebeccamalope.net
Reverend Benjamin Dube
Reverend Benjamin Dube
Reverend Benjamin Dube
is a music ministerial visionary, anointed songwriter and singer, musci
producer, mentor/father and pastor to many musicians and an inspiration
to secular artists in South Africa. A Gospel legend of Africa, Reverend
benjamin Dube began the journey of his calling in ministry in 1986 when
he recorded a single - HOLY SPIRIT which was a cross-over hit song and
chart buster in local radio stations and sold over 25 000 units in the
year of its release in RSA.
Thirteen years later, he cut a deal with Harmony Records in New york, USA, under Epic Record label and recorded his first live album - "I Feel Like Going On" which sold over a platinum in RSA only. His music ministry has briskly grown internationally, in USA, Sweden, Netherlands, Paris, Australia, Japan and has an office in London -UK.
Rev. Benjamin Dube was born in johannesburg, South Africa on January 23, 1962 -the last of five siblings. His parents, educators and evangelist Benjamin dube Snr and Grace (Singer) Dube in Assemblies of God Church (Back to God Crusade) under th late Bishop Nicholus Bhengu. Reverend Benjamin is the founder and CEO of High praise Centre in Boksburg, Johannesburg, a non-profit making organization that addresses the spiritual needs of men, women and children. HPC inagurated in 1994 is a family affair of over a 2000 membership.
With his musical background, he has fifteen albums to his name, eight which are still in the market. I feel like going on -album sold Platinum (Harmony Records/Spirit Music), Praise Explosion 2002 -album sold Gold (Spirit music/Dube Connection0, For every mountain ...thank you-album sold Platinum (Spirit music/Dube Connection), High Praise Explosion "Oh Bless Our God" -album sold Gold (Sony/Dube Connection).
Thrice he was nominated as a Finalist in the MTN-SAMA awards (2004/6) under the Best Contemporary Gospel category and received an award for Best Praise and Worship Album in 2007 and also recieved aCrown Gospel Music award for Best Praise and Worship Artist 2008. One gospel honored him with two awards, Gospel Legend Award and the Best Contemporary Artist.
In addition to his music ministry, Reverend Benjamin Dube is a sought after itinerary speaker. he spoke in former President nelson Mandela's "Freedom of the City" award presentation, sharing podiums on both Nelson mandela and Thabo Mbeki's Presidential Inaugurations. He is a well travelled preacher, and has shared the podium with Bishop TD Jakes, Bishop John Francis, Bishop Tudor Bismark, Kirk franklin, Andrae Crouch, Israel Houghton and many other renowned speakers and musicians. he is doing his Degree in Psychology with UNISA. As Senior pastor of high praise centre, he speaks to more than 1500 people every sunday, not counting the seven churches he associates with.
Reverend Dube is the Owner of a lable called Dube Connection cc. licencing to SonyBMG and Spirit Music. through the label he employs his other aptitudes as songwriter,
Thirteen years later, he cut a deal with Harmony Records in New york, USA, under Epic Record label and recorded his first live album - "I Feel Like Going On" which sold over a platinum in RSA only. His music ministry has briskly grown internationally, in USA, Sweden, Netherlands, Paris, Australia, Japan and has an office in London -UK.
Rev. Benjamin Dube was born in johannesburg, South Africa on January 23, 1962 -the last of five siblings. His parents, educators and evangelist Benjamin dube Snr and Grace (Singer) Dube in Assemblies of God Church (Back to God Crusade) under th late Bishop Nicholus Bhengu. Reverend Benjamin is the founder and CEO of High praise Centre in Boksburg, Johannesburg, a non-profit making organization that addresses the spiritual needs of men, women and children. HPC inagurated in 1994 is a family affair of over a 2000 membership.
With his musical background, he has fifteen albums to his name, eight which are still in the market. I feel like going on -album sold Platinum (Harmony Records/Spirit Music), Praise Explosion 2002 -album sold Gold (Spirit music/Dube Connection0, For every mountain ...thank you-album sold Platinum (Spirit music/Dube Connection), High Praise Explosion "Oh Bless Our God" -album sold Gold (Sony/Dube Connection).
Thrice he was nominated as a Finalist in the MTN-SAMA awards (2004/6) under the Best Contemporary Gospel category and received an award for Best Praise and Worship Album in 2007 and also recieved aCrown Gospel Music award for Best Praise and Worship Artist 2008. One gospel honored him with two awards, Gospel Legend Award and the Best Contemporary Artist.
In addition to his music ministry, Reverend Benjamin Dube is a sought after itinerary speaker. he spoke in former President nelson Mandela's "Freedom of the City" award presentation, sharing podiums on both Nelson mandela and Thabo Mbeki's Presidential Inaugurations. He is a well travelled preacher, and has shared the podium with Bishop TD Jakes, Bishop John Francis, Bishop Tudor Bismark, Kirk franklin, Andrae Crouch, Israel Houghton and many other renowned speakers and musicians. he is doing his Degree in Psychology with UNISA. As Senior pastor of high praise centre, he speaks to more than 1500 people every sunday, not counting the seven churches he associates with.
Reverend Dube is the Owner of a lable called Dube Connection cc. licencing to SonyBMG and Spirit Music. through the label he employs his other aptitudes as songwriter,
author,
producer/arranger, discovering and developing young talent. Thus far,
the label has produced five albums, two of which have sold Gold, and the
other two more than Platinum. He has developed business partnership
with Sony, Spirit Music, Gallo, EMI, BMG,SAMRO,SARRAL, and RISA.
He is the founder of Artist Hope Arise (AHA) in 2009 and also co-founded God's Worshipers Convocation (GWC) in 2009. the first Convocation was in September 2009 and is available on DVD. Secular and gospel Artists, and celebrities have frequently asked Rev. Benjamin for counselling and his wisdom. He has preaced in many of the musicians' memorial services.
Reverend Benjamin dube has been a guest of several national television and radio programmes, and has made news in every newspaper and magazine in South Africa. In december 2004, Sunday Sun -Newspaper named him the most influential celebrity of the month with integrity.
Reverend Benjamin with his wife Thabile and four sons live in the south of Johannesburg, RSA. Source: www.benjamindube.net
He is the founder of Artist Hope Arise (AHA) in 2009 and also co-founded God's Worshipers Convocation (GWC) in 2009. the first Convocation was in September 2009 and is available on DVD. Secular and gospel Artists, and celebrities have frequently asked Rev. Benjamin for counselling and his wisdom. He has preaced in many of the musicians' memorial services.
Reverend Benjamin dube has been a guest of several national television and radio programmes, and has made news in every newspaper and magazine in South Africa. In december 2004, Sunday Sun -Newspaper named him the most influential celebrity of the month with integrity.
Reverend Benjamin with his wife Thabile and four sons live in the south of Johannesburg, RSA. Source: www.benjamindube.net
KENYA
ESTHER WAHOME
Kenyan gospel singer Esther Wahome is riding high, having achieved what secular musicians in Kenya only dream about. Since teenage years, Esther knew her calling and all she has ever wanted to do was to sing praises to God. The gospel singer, who is in her late 20s, joined the super league of African music when her song, Furahia, from her solo CD by the same title, was selected together with a dozen others by some of the top musicians on the continent for a compilation CD titled, Best of Afropop Series. It has been issued internationally and is expected to chalk up high sales in various countries.
For an artiste seeking new horizons in her career, she has to work very hard and, like many other musicians, Esther has had her share of bad times and regrets, as well. She grew up in a musical family. Her father, William Wahome, is a hobby musician and was her first inspiration. It is through him that she got interested in music, first as a hobby, and later as a career. It all started in a church in Nyeri in 1988, when Kenya Broadcasting Corporation television producer Sammy Oyando spotted her and was so impressed by her singing that he arranged to have her appear on the "Sing and Shine" TV gospel music programme
Esther Wahome become the first Kenyan musician to be featured in such a compilation of songs by top contemporary African musicians. More importantly, her entry is through a gospel recording and not dance music, which commands more international
Vicky Kitonga
Esther Muthoni
Mary Atieno
TANZANIA
Rose Muhando
Rose Mhando ambaye hujulikana pia kwa jina la Rose Muhando;amezaliwa mwaka 1976 katika kijiji cha Dumila, Wilaya ya Kilosa, Mkoa wa Morogoro, nchini Tanzania) ni msanii maarufu wa muziki wa injili katika lugha ya swahili katika kanda ya Afrika Mashariki.
Rose,ambaye alikuwa muumini wa dini ya kiislamu,ni mama wa watoto watatu. Mama huyu alidai kuwa akiwa na umri wa miaka tisa alipata maono ya Yesu Kristo akiwa amelazwa. Aliteseka kwa muda wa miaka mitatu,na baada ya hapo alipona na kubadili dini(kuongoka) na kuwa mkristo.
Alianza fani yake ya muziki kama mwalimu wa kwaya inayoitwa Kwaya ya Mtakatifu Maria katika kanisa la kianglikana linaloitwa Chimuli mkoani Dodoma.
Mafanikio
Mnamo tarehe 31 mwezi Januari mwaka 2005, Rose Muhando alipata tuzo ya mtunzi bora, muimbaji bora, na tuzo ya msanii mwenye albamu bora ya mwaka wakati wa tamasha la tuzo za kiinjili, 2004.
Mnamo mwezi wa kumi na mbili, 2005, alishiriki katika tamasha la kiinjili ili kusaidia kutafuta fedha kwa ajili ya kituo cha watoto yatima cha Dar es salaam.
Baadhi ya albamu zake ni pamoja na:
1.Kitimutimu.
2.Uwe Macho, 2004.
3.Jipange Sawasawa, 2008.
Tuzo
- Mnamo mwaka 2005 Tuzo ya muziki, Tanzania: Mwimbaji bora wa kike na wimbo bora wa dini ( "Mteule uwe macho"
( History from Wikipedia.org)
HISTORY OF ROSE MUHANDO
Rose Mhando who is also known by the name of Madonna, was born in 1976 in the village of DumilaDistrict Kilosa, District of Morogoro, in Tanzania) is a famous artist in gospel music of the Swahili language in the region of East Africa.Rose, who was a believer of the religion of Islam, a mother of three children. This woman claimed that at the age of nine years he had a vision of Jesus Christ and his lying. He suffered for three years, and thereafter he was cured by changing religion (conversion) and a Christian.
He began his professional music career as a choir teacher called the Choir of St. Mary's Anglican church called Chimuli province Dodoma.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jennifer Mgendi
Jennifer Mgendi(pichani) ni miongoni mwa wanamuziki wa muziki wa injili au kwa kiingereza Gospel nchini Tanzania ambao wamejijengea sifa na umaarufu mkubwa kutokana na kazi yake hiyo ya uimbaji na kumtukuza mola.
Lakini tofauti moja kubwa ya Jennifer na wanamuziki wengine wa muziki wa injili ni kwamba yeye pia ni mtunzi mzuri wa hadithi za filamu.Baadhi ya filamu alizowahi kutunga ni kama vile Pigo la Faraja, Joto la Roho na Teke la Mama.
Alianza rasmi kujishughulisha na kazi ya muziki wa injili mwaka 1995.Albam yake ya kwanza iliitwa ‘Nini?’. Baada ya hapo alitoka tena na albamu zake zilizokwenda kwa majina ‘Ukarimu wake’, ‘Yesu Nakupenda’,'Nikiona Fahari’ na ya hivi karibuni zaidi inayoitwa Mchimba Mashimo.
Hivi karibuni tulipata nafasi ya kufanya naye mahojiano ambayo utayasoma hivi punde. Katika mahojiano haya,Jennifer anakupa kwa undani kuhusu historia yake kimuziki na kibinafsi. Ni kweli kwamba muziki wa injili wa leo ni wa “kidunia” zaidi ya “kiroho”? Anasemaje kuhusiana na hoja hiyo? Je Jennifer anaongeleaje tofauti za muziki wa injili na ule wa Bongo Fleva?Unakubaliana naye?
Nini mipango yake kwa mwaka huu wa 2009 na ana ushauri gani kwa vijana?Fuatana nasi katika mahojiano yafuatayo;
BC: Karibu Jennifer ndani ya BC.Sijui nikuambie mambo vipi au bwana asifiwe?
JM:Asante sana ndugu yangu. Yote mema tu kwani mambo ni safi na Bwana anaendelea kusifiwa…
BC:Kwa kifupi tu unaweza kutueleza historia ya maisha yako?
JM:Nilizaliwa miaka karibu 37 iliyopita hapa hapa jijini Dar es Salaam katika familia ya watoto watatu nikiwa nimetanguliwa na kaka wawili. Nimepata elimu yangu katika mikoa ya Dar es salaam na Tanga. Nilianza uimbaji rasmi mwaka 1995 na hapo katikati nilifanya kazi kadhaa za kuajiriwa kama Ualimu na Ukutubi lakini tangu mwaka 2007 niliacha kazi za kuajiriwa na mpaka hivi leo ninafanya shughuli zangu binafsi.
BC:Mara nyingi wasanii huwa wanaanza kwa kufuata mfano wa mtu,watu au kitu fulani.Kwa upande wako nini kilikushawishi uingie kwenye muziki wa injili.Je kwenye muziki wa injili ndiko ulikoanzia au ulianzia kwingine halafu ndio ukahamia kwenye injili?
JM:Watu wengi walikuwa wakinivutia sana na kunihamasisha kwa habari ya uimbaji lakini miaka hiyo nilivutiwa zaidi na Jim Reeves na Yvonne Chakachaka ambao walikuwa wananivutia sana.
Nimeanza moja kwa moja kuimba muziki huu wa injili kwa sababu tayari injili (ambayo ni uweza wa Mungu uletao wokovu kwa kila aaminiye) ilikuwa imebadilisha maisha yangu. Kwa hiyo sina mwingine wa kumwimbia zaidi ya huyo mwenye Injili yaani Yesu Kristo.
BC:Kwa faida ya wale ambao hawajafuatilia kwa ukaribu kazi zako,mpaka hivi sasa umeshatoa albamu ngapi,zinapatikana wapi na wewe kama msanii wa muziki wa injili unafanyia wapi kazi zako?
JM:Mpaka sasa nina albam tano za kusikiliza ambazo ni Nini?, Ukarimu Wake, Nikiona Fahari, Yesu Nakupenda na Mchimba Mashimo. Pia nina video za nyimbo ambazo ni Yesu Nakupenda na Mchimba Mashimo. Hali kadhalika nina matoleo ya filamu ambayo ni Joto la Roho, Pigo la Faraja na Teke la Mama. Sina sehemu maalum ninayofanyia shughuli zangu kwani shughuli zangu sio za kukaa sehemu moja.
BC:Kumekuwepo na ukosoaji kwamba ninyi waimbaji wa muziki wa injili wa kizazi hiki mnapoteza kabisa uhalisia wa muziki huo.Wanaosema hivyo wanasema kwamba muziki wenu hauna vionjo vya “kiroho” bali umejaa vionjo vya “kidunia” kutokea kwenye midundo yake na wakati mwingine hata kwenye mashairi au ujumbe uliomo.Unasemaje kuhusu ukosoaji huo?
JM:Unajua ndugu yangu siwezi kukanusha wala kukubaliana na hoja yao hiyo. Inawezekana ni kweli wanavyosema na hii inatokea zaidi pale waimbaji tunapokosa kiasi. Hata hivyo “kiroho” kwa mtu mmoja kwa mwingine chaweza kuwa ni “kidunia”.
Kuna watu wengine hata kupiga makofi tu wakati unaimba kwao ni “kidunia”. La muhimu ni kwamba mradi mashairi na ujumbe unampa Mungu sifa na utukufu, binafsi sioni ubaya wowote wa nyimbo za injili kuwa na “midundo” na wala sijawahi kusoma kwenye biblia sehemu inayokataza kupiga midundo sanasana nimesoma Zaburi ikisema “….pigeni kwa ustadi…”.
Kuhusu ujumbe wa kidunia kwa kweli mimi sijasikia mwimbaji wa nyimbo za injili akiimba nyimbo za kidunia maneno yote tunayoimba yamo kwenye biblia au angalau hayapingani na mafundisho ya msingi ya biblia.
BC: Mara kwa mara kumekuwepo watu ambao aidha wanajaribu kukufananisha na waimbaji wengine wa muziki wa injili kama Rose Mhando,Bahati Bukuku na wengineo.Wengine wamethubutu hata kuwapambanisha.Je uhusiano wako na wanamuziki wengine wa injili ukoje?Mnajiona kama washindani au washirika katika Bwana?
JM:Ni kweli mara zingine wanafanya hivyo lakini nadhani kimsingi tunatofautiana na kila mmoja ana uimbaji wake kwa kadiri ya kipawa au kipaji alichopewa na Bwana. Ila la kufurahisha ni kwamba hatuna tabia ya kushindana kwani kila mmoja kapewa karama kivyake na kubwa zaidi ni kwamba tunatambua kuwa wote lengo letu ni moja, yaani kuujenga ufalme wa Mungu hapa duniani. Kwa hiyo huwa tunashirikiana sio jukwaani tu bali mara nyingine hata katika mambo ya kawaida ya maisha.
BC: Kwa muda sasa umekuwa mwanamuziki.Unadhani ni mambo gani matatu ya msingi ambayo umejifunza kutokana na kazi yako ya muziki na ambayo unadhani usingeyajua kama usingekuwa mwanamuziki?
JM:1. Nimejifunza nchi yangu na kuifahamu zaidi kwani nimesafiri sana katika mikoa na wilaya nyingi ambazo nisingefika kama sio muziki.
2. Nimejifunza mambo mengi sana yaliyonijenga kiroho kutokana na kualikwa kuhudhuria mikutano, semina na makongamano ya kiroho.
3.Nimejifunza kuishi aina fulani ya maisha yenye kiasi fulani cha nidhamu kutokana na nafasi yangu katika jamii, maisha ambayo pengine nisingekuwa maarufu nisingeishi hivyo.
(Kutoka Bongo Celebrity)
Flora Mbasha
My name is Flora (Tanzanian gospel singer). My Fathers name is Henry Mayallah. My mother is Caroline Moses Kulola. I was born in Mwanza Tanzania and my tribe is Msukuma. I was born in a Christian family; my Father and Mother are both Christians.
My father died in 1998, during the time we were living in Arusha. He left behind three children who are Benjamin the first born, I Flora begin the second and Dorcus who is the third and last daughter to my father.
After the passing of my father my grandfather and grandmother on my mother side took the responsibility of taking care of us. Later on my mother was blessed with a wedding ring and two beautiful children who are Suzy and Esther, making a family of 5 children.
Later she yet again was blessed with another baby Girl who was given to her as an offering at Church; hence my Father and Mother took the responsibility of taking care of the child like their own child giving the family a number of 6 children.
My Mother and father are both Evangelists living in Mwanza. I thank god for my Father and Mother and my Grand mother who are Arc Bishop of Assemblies of God T( E. A. G. T) Moses Kulola and my Grandmother whom took care of me since my fathers death, they educated me until the time of my wedding. I started singing at an early age and I was singing with the Bugando Divine Singer in Mwanza town.
In 22/ 09/ 2002 I said my vows and got married to my one and only husband Emmanuel Mbasha at the E. A. G. T Church in Mwanza. God has blessed us with a beautiful baby daughter called Elizabeth who is three years of age.
My husband E. Mbasha has been of great assistance to my success, he has supported me by giving the right advice and guidance that has led to what I have today. We have song written together songs and performed in both albums that I hold.
Flora' Dreams: I have the dream of going around Tanzania on a tour spreading the Gospel through singing in public shows. I believe by doing that I will win the hearts of many especially for the masses who have no money to pay for get charges.I hope to buy live music equipments for performing for I fill complete when the music is played by a live band. Moreover I'm on the verge of recording video for the second album that already on the market.
Flora's Vision: My vision is to work for our lord Jesus Christ until the day of my calling. I have the desire of reaching out the to youth who have not found Christ so that they turn to God for their lives, for my heart burns when I see youth engaged in drugs immorality and other doing that are not of morality. In future I do hope to open my own studio for recording music.
Raising funds for the needy, on going activity includes in fund rising for orphan at the orphan centre in Mwanza region. Sensitizing leaders and decision makers on the need to help orphans when ever the chance arises. Mounting funds until they reach beneficiaries who are orphans.
Hobbies: Singing and chatting with friends.
Flora's Church: Currently I'm praying at mnazi Mmoja Evangelist Assemblies of God. The church has god's blessings because we witness this through the miracle experienced at the church such as healing that people get all the time.
This is done by Revered Bruno Mwakibolewa with the assistance of his wife Mrs. Mwakibolewa. Player days are on Wednesday & Sunday.
Some of her songs are Usife moyo, Aliteseka, Jipe moyo, Hakuna Tatizo Kuu, Yu Karibu, Tunaye Bwana, Ukimwi, Ashante Yesu, Majaribu, Maisha Ya Ndoa, etc
Upendo Kilahiro
Upendo Kilahiro is a Tanzanian International Gospel singer living in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania. She is married to Pastor Amon Kilahiro and they are blessed with a daughter Gloria.
Upendo ministers the Gospel through music and has travelled to many nations touching hearts and drawing to the presence of God.
Angela Chibalonza Runiga was born on November 26, 1976 in Bukavu, eastern Congo-Kinshasa. She enjoyed music right from childhood. After completing secondary school in 1996, Chibalonza moved to Kenya the following year in what she described as her responce to a call from God to serve Him in the 35-million East African nation and also to pursue her music career.
Though she had sang in the choir and even rose to choir leadership since 1992 when she got saved aged 15 years, Chibalonza had not recorded any music in her native Congo.
In Kenya, the budding musician released her maiden album, Nikuabudu. She followed it up with Jina la Yesu the following year, in 1998. In 1999, she
Thus her travel to Nairobi to embark on a music career was appreciated and encouraged by her Christian parents and 10 siblings. released Mwisho wa Dunia and thereafter Ninapotembea.
Angela's popular albums sold well across the Kiswahili-speaking eastern and central Africa. She endeared herself and warmed her way into the hearts of hundreds of music lovers - even among those that do not profess Christianity - in her rich vocals that she delivered through live performances in churches and at open-air public Christian meetings. Her music albums have sold in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Congo, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and in other parts of the world where Kiswahili, Lingala and French are spoken.
"I am famous in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Congo but I have no money to show for it. I am content serving God," Chibalonza often used to say.
In 2004, Kora All Africa Music Awards nominated Chibalonza for Best Gospel Female Artist award for Jubilee, off Yahwe Uhimidiwe album. She did not win but it was clear that her talent was now in the public domain.
In her Kora nomination profile, the musician says, "Jina la Yesu made history in my musical career; it made me the Angela I am today. I got to be known in Kenya and in East and Central Africa. I have released other albums like Ninapotembea, Nzambe Papa, and Nakuabudu. Yahwe Uhimidiwe is the new album I release in January this year. It contains the song Jubilee, which is the song I have submitted for the Kora All Africa Music Awards 2004."
Singing mainly in Lingala and Kiswahili and at times in French, Runiga, was set to release her latest album, Nimekutana na Yesu (I have Met With Jesus), at Nairobi Cinema in Nairobi, on September 29, 2007. This was never to be. On September 22, 2007, Angela, her driver, Kennedy Aluoch, and vocalist, Nimrod Makori, perished in a ghastly morning road accident at Kinale, on the Naivasha-Nairobi highway while they were returning to Nairobi from a performance at Egerton University in Njoro.
The shocking news of her death filtered across Kenya via radio and television Some said that Chibalonza, whose first name means angel, "has been called to go and lend her voice to the angels in praise of God up in heaven. Runiga also sang in languages like Luganda to cut across language barriers. Oh Yesu Wange off her Ninapotembea (Whenever I Walk) album, for instance, is in Luganda.
Runiga, leaves behind her husband and pastor of four years, Elisha Muliri.
Bahati Bukuku
JESCA HONORE
EPHRAIM SEKELETI MUTALANGE
HISTORIA YA MWANAMUZIKI WA INJILI
Ephraim akiwa na mkewe Faith Mutalange
Ephraim Sekeleti Mutalange ni muimbaji maarufu wa nyimbo za Injili nchini Zambia, alizaliwa Mwaka 1983 katika mji wa Kalulushi nchini Zambia. Alimaliza elimu yake ya sekondari katika shule ya Kalulushi mwaka 2001.
Ephraim ni mtoto wa pili toka mwisho kati ya watoto sita, aliingia kwenye muziki wa injili tangu akiwa kinda huku alifundishwa kupiga kinanda na mmishonari alipokuwa bado mdogo. Mama yake anasema “ Ephraim alikuwa ni mtoto aliyekuwa wa kelele nyingi”. Yeye pamoja na dada zake waliimba kanisani wakitumia kinanda na huko alipata uzoefu katika uimbaji na upigaji wa kinanda. Baadaye alijiendeleza katika uimbaji kwenye kikundi kilichojulikana kwa jina la “Virtue for Christ” na aliimba katika kikundi hicho kwa muda wa miaka miwili.
Mwaka 2002 akiwa na kiu ya kurekodi album yake, Aliamua kujitoa muhanga kwenda Afrika ya Kusini kwa kutumia kiasi kidogo tu cha pesa alichokuwa nacho, nia ilikua ni kurekodi album yake ya kwanza. Pamoja na jitihada hizo, baada ya kufika nchini Afrika ya Kusini alijikuta anaweza kurekodi nyimbo mbili tu kati ya album nzima. Hivyo akaamua kujiingiza katika Theater ya Pretoria na ndipo akapata fursa ya kuimba mbele ya Rais wa Afrika ya Kusini. Nafasi nyingi ziliendelea kujitokeza zilizomsababishia kutaka kuacha kuendelea na muziki wa injili ili aimbe miziki ya kidunia, lakini akawa muaminifu kuendelea na uimbaji wa injili. Mlango ulifunguka kumruhusu kurekodi album ya kwanza iitwayo Temba Baby“(Mtoto wa Miujiza)”.
Baada ya kurekodi, na kuuza nakala za kutosha za album hiyo ya Temba boy, kwa mafanikio ya hiyo kazi Ephraim aliamua kurudi nyumbani kuwekeza ile fedha. aliona awekeze zaidi kwenye ya album yake ya pili iliyopata mafanikio makubwa iliyoitwa Limo Ndanaka. Hi album imefanya vizuri kwenye chati mbalibali za muziki wa injili. Ephraim akiwa nje ya Zambia ameimba katika nchi mbali mbali zikiwemo Namibia, Afrika ya Kusini, Tanzania, Zimbawe na Australia.
Alisema anafurahi akiona watu wasiokuwa na tumaina la Kristo wakianza kuwa na matumain, Licha ya kufanya muziki wake nchini Zambia amewahi kuja nchini Tanzania na kurekodi album yake nzima kwa Lugha ya Kiswahili. Moja kati ya Nyimbo zake zinazotamba hapa nchini ni pamoja na
1. Uniongoze
2. Baraka Zako
3. Huu Mwaka
Ephraim hajui Kiswahili fasaha na nyimbo zake hizo alifundishwa kuziimba kwa lugha ya Kiswahili na Mchungaji ambaye pia ni muimbaji wa nyimbo za Injili kutoka Tanzania Ency Mwalukasa. Ephraim amesema ataendelea kuhubiri kwa njia ya uimbaji kwa sababu imempa changamoto zilizomuinua. Licha ya uimbaji Ephraim amefunga ndoa na Faith Chelishe na wamejaliwa kupata mtoto mmoja wa kike
MAGIDA TOMOTHEO
Joseph Nyuki
David Robert
Kongo DRC
L'or Mbongo
Marie Misamu
Nathalie Makoma
Micheline Shabani
Mike Kalambay