Zimbabwe upcoming gospel outfits have bemoaned lack of sponsorship as a hindrance in resuscitating the once vibrant music industry.

Despite the accumulating numbers of new gospel groups showing on the scene, many are dying prematurely before making it into the mainstream music industry.

In an interview with RelZim, Innocent Mafunga who is the front man of a newly formed group, Kwekwe Praise said that lack of sponsorship is negatively affecting upcoming gospel outfits. 

“Many upcoming gospel groups are crippled financially. This can be said of us (Kwekwe Praise); we are struggling to raise money to meet the costs of hiring venues, music equipment and transport. Without sponsorship, it is difficult to make a name for ourselves in the music industry.

“However, in a bid to market ourselves, we have resorted to perform on funerals, weddings, parties and having some joint live shows with musical gurus such as the Charambas, Blessing Shumba only to mention a few,” said Mafunga.

Mafunga said gospel music must not be taken for granted because it has the ability to transform people’s lives for the good.

“Our mission is to spread the word of God through music. So for us to realise this, we need all the support we can get and that includes financial support,” he said.

Tafara Mahachi, leader of a Gweru based gospel group ‘The Worshipers’ reiterated that most new gospel groups   are in dire need of sponsorship.

“It is now more than seven months since we have formed ‘The Worshipers’, but during this period we have failed to get a sponsor. Many sponsors distance themselves from upcoming groups or musicians,” he said.

A Kwekwe based music promoter Nicodemus Manyame said, “It is more profitable to channel your resources to already established groups. It takes time for these new groups to be recognised by people”.