Christabel - a Different, Talented Artiste
Some musicians do not need effort to be appreciated and when such musicians disappear, their songs play in one’s mind for long. And yesterday morning, Christabel Dhukuche’s songs, notably Mwari Ariko, played in my mind and I then dug deep to find out where she is and what she could be doing.
In case you have forgotten, Christabel is the gospel artiste who gave us Zvikomborero, Umalusi, Mangwana Ndinhasi, We Depend on You, Simba Idzva, Umangithandaza and Baba Vangu, among others. She did brilliant videos of her songs Zvikomborero and Mwari Ariko, the latter depicting a distraught man who has lost hope and meaning in his life.
And there Christabel is, singing for and to the man about how much God cares and loves him and that for whatever reason, God is there and the man should just accept him. What makes Christabel different is how smooth and unhurried she is and how her voice — soft, alluring and underpinned by easy conviction - keeps on playing even after the song has stopped.
There is something akin to a child’s voice which one cannot ignore and this, coupled with the distinct beat of her gospel music, makes Christabel likeable. Her last work - an eight-track album titled Hallelujah - released in 2001 stood her shoulder to shoulder with artistes such as Ivy Kombo and Carol Mujokoro. But just when all signs were pointing that she would ride high, Christabel disappeared from the scene and unconfirmed reports say that she trekked to the United Kingdom together with others.
Christabel learnt her music strings from her brother Chrispen, who used to play a guitar when she was young. She attended Luveve and Inzwananzi primary schools before proceeding to Columbus Secondary School in Bulawayo.
Initially she studied for a diploma in business studies at the Bulawayo Polytechnic but left to take up a teacher-training course at Hillside Teachers’ College. Her first album High Palace that carries the hit song Mwari Ariko came in 1995 followed by Prevailing Hand that features the song Zvikomborero.
In 2000 she was voted the most promising gospel singer at the Tsama Music Awards. Hopefully, Christabel is still singing wherever she is.
Source: The Herald
