The Sunday News
Mbongeni Msimanga Sunday Leisure Correspondent
WHEN Mafriq announced their arrival on the entertainment scene at the height of the urban grooves genre’s popularity, their music literally swept many music aficionados off their balance, and was undoubtedly an anthem on the streets.
The trio of Tunga T, Pauline and Discord headlined the music scene with their smash hit Ndichamuudza Chete, a masterpiece which epitomised musical maturity. Well thought-out lyrics, a unique fusion of R ’n B, dancehall and Afro Jazz gave their music a unique tone which irresistibly got it on everyone’s tongue.
This was until the group’s heart-breaking split, when Tunga T experienced the Biblical Damascus moment and decided to take a sabbatical from music, a hiatus which saw him rediscovering himself as gospel music artiste.
Mafriq did not disintegrate there with Pauline and Discord maintaining the outfits’ name.
In an interview with Sunday Leisure, Tunga T said he had come upon the realisation that he had a purpose to serve God through his music.
“My time had come for me to minister the word of God and this I did through music. In as much as I wanted to pursue a career in world music, I found myself unable to continue on that path and I just decided to quit secular music,” he said.
For many, Tunga T’s break from the group he helped establish and one that made a name for him as an artiste of repute and his subsequent hiatus from music may have signalled the death of his music career.
But like they say once an artiste always an artiste, Tunga T is still in the game despite the low profile that he has maintained after he left Mafriq.
“I am still in the music industry but the music that I am doing now has no many followers unlike when I was doing secular music with Mafriq. I have a new album that is coming soon and I cannot completely rule out that I am no longer as popular as I used to be when I was with Mafriq but there is no bad blood between me and the other Mafriq members. In fact we are very good friends although my focus is now on gospel music,” he said.
Although many who had grown to know Tunga T for his creativity and ingenuity felt that the pint-sized artiste made a wrong decision at the wrong time, he maintains that he has not lost his fans.
Many still believe that the outfit, which had rare qualities and the potential to fly the country’s flag high on the international music scene, had robbed them of music that they were now used to.
“I doubt if I can say I lost my fans and I believe that they accepted when I left for gospel music. I meet many people on the street and they always want me to come back, but I believe it was good for me.
“Everyone does go through a path of mishaps, but I am lucky to have corrected that before it was already too late,” he said.
The musician, who now doubles up as a fashion designer, released a 16-track gospel album titled Approved Workman.
The album, whose title is derived from a biblical verse 2nd Timothy Chapter 2vs15, was produced at My Africa Studio, and is a reflection of Tunga T’s Christian lifestyle.
It is a unique piece and a true reflection of Tunga T’s artistry, which carries various flavours of dancehall, reggae, contemporary, hip-hop and jazz.
The singer, however, collaborated with his ex-Mafriq partner Pauline, Munya H2o and Myth on his offing.
“In my latest gospel offing I collaborated with ex-Mafriq partner Pauline. It reflects my life and has flavours of dancehall, reggae, contemporary hip-hop and jazz,” he said.
As a fashion designer, some of his designs have been showcased at Rubies of Africa in South Africa, Miss Global Zimbabwe, Miss Universities and Miss Rural.
