The Sunday News
Rumbidzai Mbewe, Sunday Life Correspondent
HER voice and sound is captivating, making her different from all artistes in the music industry in Zimbabwe.
She introduced herself to our phones and social network after interpreting Winky D’s Musarova Bigman and continues to do a marvelous job interpreting other people’s music, adding her own touch and feeling.
In an interview, the young musician, Gemma Griffiths, said she always had the passion for music and being on stage. She said music inspires her and as an artiste you always learn something from every musician.
“I can’t remember a time when I was not singing. Our Zimbabwean music has woven its way through my mind my entire life, and shows throughout my creative process,” she said.
Despite being born in Cape Town, South Africa, Gemma had the chance to learn the Shona language as she grew up in Harare.
She said growing up in this country was a wonderful experience for her as she had the chance to learn some things and had experiences of Zimbabwe that made her the singer she is today.
“I grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe and have been surrounded by the beautiful language from a young age. Growing up there is paying off now because I can interpret these songs on my own because I understand the language and it’s easy for me to put my feelings in the song as I relate to what is being talked about,” she said.
Gemma said Zimbabwe has so many incredible musicians that she would love to work with. The young musician said she has sung alongside Tariro neGitare who is divine and loves her style.
“Jah Prayzah is definitely one of the artistes that I would most like to work with, I love his music, and he writes incredible stuff. I recently opened a show for him in Cape Town and it was amazing,” she said.
Gemma praised Zimbabwean artistes for the work they are doing to push their music not only in the country but in the region. He said the music industry was growing in the positive direction.
“Zimbabwean musicians are creating amazing music, and many of them are branching out into the SA scene already, with a few incredible Zimbabweans even playing huge shows in the UK. It is already happening.
Now based in Cape Town, Gemma has opened the Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts for one of Zimbabwe’s top artistes, Jah Prayzah, as well as opening for South African stars Jimmy Nevis, Majozi and Matthew Mole.
Gemma’s interpretation of Winky D’s Musarova Bigman in 2016 was an overnight success, with over 94 000 YouTube views within months of its release, becoming something of an anthem for Zimbabweans across the globe. This year she did a new release of an interpretation of Jah Prayzah’s Mdhara Vachauya.
@rumbie_mbewe
