BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
Marvin Dube, a rising gospel artist born in Binga, says he is touching many lives with his songs that bring hope, cultivate faith and inspire souls.
Dube (33), who is now based in Bulawayo, sings in Tonga, Ndebele and Shona to achieve his goal of reaching as many people as possible.
He started recording music in 2018, but his music journey started as far back as 2003 where he used to sing at Scripture Union meetings around Hwange and Binga.
“I started first at Kamativi Secondary School in Hwange district and l continued with the journey at Binga High School where I and several other friends, who l spearheaded the Gospel Extravaganza Music Competition with a group called Glory Redemption,” he said.
“I then moved to Gweru where I focused my singing gift on church ministry only, going to outreach programmes with the Gweru Airforce Team in the Gwenoro rural areas and also worked with the Midlands Christian Care Music team on gospel outreach programmes.”
Dube said after spending six years in Gweru, he moved to Bulawayo where he then decided to start recording his music in 2018.
The move was based on the missionary principles of “bringing more souls to Christ.
“It was instilled in me by my mentor and pastor, Dr Nqobile Ngwenya, of Spoken Word Fellowship,” he said.
His first track was called Tinosimudza Zita RaJesu, where he worked with a popular Bulawayo saxophonist Vuyile Qongo and it was produced by award winning producer Percy of JustPercy Studios in Bulawayo.
Dube’s song has been played several times on Trace Gospel Africa and it has touched many lives.
” I then worked on some beautiful tracks like Bana BaLeza, a Tonga chorus meaning Children of God, Anondirwira and Tenda Chete, which have really been well accepted by my audience,” he added.
Dube says his music has been appreciated in countries like Zambia and South Africa where songs like Bana BaLeza and Tenda Chete have been the torch bearers.
“I am planning to release an-eight- track album by the end of 2021 with songs like Imigwaqo yegolide, Tirivana VaShe to name a few.”
To keep his audiences entertained, he also does online worship sessions with his church team that can be followed on his Facebook channel, Marvin Dube and the Spoken Word Fellowship Bulawayo and on YouTube.
Dube says the biggest challenge in his music career has been learning how to balance between a full-time job and singing.
“I am a retailer by profession, therefore, time to do music is restricted therefore I resorted to producing singles whenever I got a chance, but my desire is to spread the word of God through music, uniting nations and healing the broken hearted and also giving hope as my music has been mostly about hope, faith and revival,” he said.