RENOWNED filmmaker and musician Leonard Chibamu says his music strives to make people rediscover the purpose of life.
Chibamu, a police officer by profession, released his debut gospel album Zvigare Zvakadaro last year, and tomorrow he launches his second eight-track album Garai Neni.
Chibamu told NewsDay Life & Style that he started singing as a young boy in church in Chivhu and composed the chorus Tifanane Najesu which went viral on social media.
“I used to compose songs for drama series and could receive numerous requests from our audience which inspired me to do more music. Personally, I thought I should be in the service of the Lord, as a result I decided to do gospel music,” he explained.
“I often interface with old people and I discovered this generation needs more inspiration and hope. My music strives to make people rediscover the purpose of life and see it growing each day”.
Chibamu said he sampled some of the tracks on the new album when he performed at Bernard Muzeki and Arthur Shearly Cripps Anglican Festivals.
“My songs on the forthcoming album are inspired by hymns, some are situationally inspired by events in my life, friends and people I meet,” he said.
The eight songs on the new album are: Garai Neni, Dzvara Muchinjiko, Zuva Rabuda, Humambo, Iwe Izwi, Mbiri kunaMwari, Ndiani Anerudo and Anoshamisa featuring gospel songstress Rumbidzai Zvirikuzhe.
Chibamu embarked on his showbiz journey around 2008 as an amateur filmmaker before he fully established his first film project Zvoitwasei in 2014 with Village Secrets coming later around 2016.
Village Secrets has been showing on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBCTV) since 2019 to date.
Chibamu noted that his highest career motivation was June 24, 2021, when he represented Zimbabwe on an international Webinar which beamed across the world featuring the top think-tanks in the African creative sector.
He said this gave him confidence to do more in the arts.
Chibamu is currently pursuing doctoral studies with the Catholic University.