The late Jordan Chataika plying his accoustic guitar had his first recordings with the then Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation in the mid sixties is credited with pioneering gospel music by blacks in this country. Obviously, there could have been some gospel
heralds earlier on but were unrecorded. Be that as it may, only one artist in the name of Machanic Manyeruke can claim a place in the hall of fame of having popularised gospel music in its contemporary form. He is the one who softened the hearts of recording company executives into accepting that local gospel music is commercially viable. His first single “Chirema patemberi” had so much resonance gourded by Machanic’s pious voice with a wicked twang from his electrified accoustic guitar strings. In this song Machanic is telling the biblical story of a begging crippled man at the temple who thought he would be given coins but instead Peter told him to get up and walk in the name of Jesus. Manyeruke’s narration in song is so vivid that one can see the crippled man rise and walk at a temple two millenium years ago. Such is the hallmark of this gospel artist’s music, I believe it could paint the same picture to both believers and non-believers.
Having grown up in the Salvation Army, it may be no surprise for his early annointment into music. He was on th 16th August 1942, in Chiwundura Communal Area. He moved to Harare and found work in the leafy surburb of Borrowdale.There he formed a group called the Gospel Singers with his friends. They provided free entertainment to social gatherings by singing and sometimes by an accoustic guitar.
Eversince, his first single recorded in 1984, Machanic has gone from strength to strength.
Having formed, a fully fledged band the Puritans he has continued to record, perform live and his albums sell very well. Machanic is a well travelled man. He has performed in the United States,Canada, and the United Kingdom as well as the Scandinavian countries.
