By Trevor Makonyonga
Founder of Household of Faith Family Church International, Michael Teedzai has released his fifth studio album titled “Mikitam Yangu” as a gift for the new year.
The album is the first time the pastor has worked on his new genre which is called Ghetto Gospel Jazz.
Pastor Michael Teedzai said that the genre was named by the late Dr Oliver Mtukudzi who heard him playing at Pakare Paye Arts Centre sometime in 2017.
“The late Dr Mtukudzi was the mentor behind this new genre called Ghetto Gospel Jazz. It was Dr Mtukudzi who advised me to record live music and not computerised music as I had grown accustomed to doing since entering the hypercompetitive Zimbabwe gospel music industry. I worked hard and created this new genre. Dr Mtukudzi is posthumously the album’s executive producer.”
The Pastor also explained the meaning of the title of the album.
“Mikitamu Rangu literally means a psalmody about my life history. It is about my walk of faith in the wilderness of life for forty years. I am forty now and as they say life begins at forty. Even more than peace and economic stability is the blessing of knowing the Lord and obeying Him. Only by the gospel can our destinies be restored,” said Pastor Teedzai.
The album, Mikitamu Rangu, has eight tracks namely Reza, Jesu Ndiani, Pandakabuda, Maspanera, Drug Free World, Ndaramba Kufa, Marara Seiko and Puresha Zero.
The other albums he has done are Shungu in 2006 and Tashinga in 2009 which he recorded in his hometown of Mutare. He then took his productions to Harare where he released Xenophobia in 2013 and a Coat of many colours which he worked with Lyon Studios.
This new album was recorded at Pakare Paye Studios and produced by Tawanda Chibedura. Teedzai is backed by the Gospel Spiritans Band which he formed in 2005.
He is currently supplying his music and can be reached on his facebook page Michael Teedzai Music.