Top 10 Tracks : Shingisai Suluma

Shingisai Suluma is undoubtedly a icon of the music industry, she has done a lot for gospel music. She was the biggest gospel artist in the 2000's, she dominated the gospel scene with her countless chart topping tracks, she was basically the face of gospel music during that decade. 

She quickly started to be referred to as Mai because of her nurturing and comforting music. Listening to her music feels like a mother's assurance, it's deep, considerate and her messages will not get out of your head just like your mother's words.

She was a dominant force and one of the pioneers of the contemporary gospel sound that is now popular today. She was the first to successfully work with a choral group, the Joystreet Choir group. The music they made was refreshing and full of joy, you could feel they are singing with a smile on her face, the type of music which makes even the neighbors sing along.

She entered the music scene in the 90's but it was in the 2000's when she found her rhythm and took over. Her dominance started in 2000 with her album Mumaoko which contained the track Mirira Mangwanani which was a massive success. She followed it with Nokuti Wakanaka in 2002 which contained the chart topping classic Gogodza. The following year she dropped the successful album Fara Zvakadaro which had hits such as the title track Fara Zvakadaro, Tenda & Tidzidzisei Kunamata and made her a household name. The next project Tatenda Taona released in 2005 cemented her legendary status, it contains classics such as Tatenda Taona the title track, Nanhasi (a track that won the heart of then President Robert Mugabe), Zvaachakuitira, Toda, Ndopaanouya, Mai Vangu Baba Vangu which have all became classics. She followed it up with another equally (or even bigger) project Maitiro Enyu in 2007 which contained classics such as: Maitiro Enyu the title track, Ndizvo, Handikusiye Wega, Handiti, Iripo Nzira, Gare Gare & Naye.

She went on to release more projects after that (she is still currently active) but she has never reached the peak she achieved during the 5 years from 2003 to 2007. She then relocated to the USA around 2009 and that is probably one of the main reasons she never reached her previous levels. Fun fact: Since Zimbabwe gained independence there is no artist who has managed to be successful relocate and continue achieving the success they achieved whilst still in Zimbabwe. Lack of touch with the local way of life is definitely a huge cause of that disconnection.

After that intro it's clear that selecting just only 5 tracks is a tall order, so I have taken the executive decision to change it to a top ten!!! So from now on the series will switch to top 10 rather than top 5. After some weeks listening to all of my favorites tracks from her and some that I may have overlooked will be sharing my favorite 10 tracks from Amai Shingisai Suluma. Without wasting time let's get to the top ten:

10. Gogodza

9. Mirira Mangwanani

8. Nanhasi

7. Tidzidzisei Kunamata 

6. Zvaachakuitira 

5. Handiti

4. Maitiro Enyu 

3. Tatenda Taona 

2. Fara Zvakadaro 

1. Iripo Nzira 

So ya those are my top 10 tracks from Amai Shingisai Suluma. It has been a welcomed headache making this list.

So I know many of you enjoyed her music also, feel free to share your top 10 from her in the comments below. 

Proud_Zimbo