The Sunday News
Bongani Ndlovu, Sunday Life Correspondent
THE discerning musical ear of his father led up- and-coming gospel musician Sibusiso Harvey to be involved in the genre after the whole family was converted to the faith during a concert 23 years ago.
Harvey, fronting a talented three-member group Burning Bush which comprises his twin Sandile and Michelle Garacho is blessed with a powerful voice that ministers to people.
Harvey, who grew up in Highfield, Harare and Mzilikazi in Bulawayo said he has his late father jazz musician Edwin Muza Harvey, a flute player to thank after he turned around his life after following the sound of music.
“Music was something that was in the family because of my father. And he was the one who also influenced me to do gospel music. In 1993 in Highfield, my father heard some music from far while he was on his way home from work. When he got home, he said we should all follow the sound for like 5km, only to realise that it was a Reinhardt Bonnke crusade. After that he was born again along with everyone else in my family.
“Every morning he would play his flute. He would mentor young people teaching them the word. However, my brother Kashimani Muziwakhe was the one who influenced me the most to take up gospel music. He bought a CD player at home when he was working, and played Hillsongs, Hosana Music, Don Moen and Kirk Franklin,” said Harvey.
However, tragedy struck in 1996, when Harvey was six years old as his father died.
“When my father died my brother narrates that I was seen singing the loudest on my parents’ bed. I was singing Vhana vake ndimi munovaziva Jehovah. According to my brother that was the moment that the gift of music was passed on to me from my father,” said Harvey
After moving to Bulawayo to Mzilikazi suburb in 1997 and learnt at Ross Camp until completing his primary school there in 2000. Then when Harvey was at St Columbu’s in 2001 he joined the school choir that was according to the musician, the turning point in his life.
“There was a male solo that was supposed to be done and some of the choir members suggested that I should do it. We practised the solo and the following week we presented it to the school and people liked how I sang the solo,” said Harvey.
The ambitious muso has performed with the likes of Sebastian Magacha Nigeria’s Uche, South Africa’s Patrick Danke, Pastor G and Pastor Nhende from Zimbabwe.
With Burning Bush they have performed at Prophetess Chiza’s book launch earlier last month, and last year at the Ibumba Festival and at the Creme Voices concert.
In all this he had good academics that got him a scholarship with Petra High School where according to Harvey was when came into his groove.
“At Petra I sang very much, I could feel that I was really doing something great. After completing my A-level in 2010 I went to South Africa’s Wits University to study Actuarial Science. I had to discontinue because my sponsor, my uncle, passed away in 2012. Then I had to come back to Zimbabwe and I applied at Nust and I had to do it all over again. By the grace of God I have completed my degree.”
Turning to the formation of Burning Bush Harvey said he felt that it was time there was a group that was God’s torch bearer.
