The award winning gospel group, Vabati VaJehovah is one of the pioneering apostolic groups to emerge on the music industry and they have soured above obstacles and continues to shine despite the misfortunes that fell on the band over the years.
Growing up in the dusty rural area of Mhondoro, about 40km from Harare, the five men who sang in the church choir had no idea that they would later live on their voices calling themselves Vabati VaJehova.
They were part of the church choir that entertained elders during worship sessions and the group broke into the music scene in 1999 with their debut album Mweya Mutsvene waMwari that included the hit song Anouya Chete.
Of the original five, four were from the Magaya family. These are Wiseman, Mamrod, Timothy and Khumbulani as well as Samson Tawengwa, whose families belonged to the Ruwadzano Romuchinjikwa Apostolic sect.
In a sad twist, Wiseman, Timothy and Khumbulani Magaya all passed away within a space of 5 years. Wiseman Magaya died in 2007 and in 2009 Timothy Magaya was hit by a haulage truck at Rosalum shopping centre along Harare-Masvingo Road while coming from the Beatrice farming area where he had gone to collect firewood, and Khumbulani Magaya died in 2011 after battling a long illness.
Mamrod Magaya relocated to South Africa and Samson Tawenga split from the group and rumors were that there was conflict with the remaining Magaya brothers who wanted to lead the band when Tawenga was advocating for the lead role since he belonged to the original 5 who formed the group during the dawn of the millennium.
However, a video posted on YouTube on 8 November 2019 shows Samson Tawenga and the rest of Vabati VaJehova singing live to Mutumwa Anouya proving that there might be room for reconciliation.
The emergence of Vabati VaJehovah was followed by several groups like Vaparidzi Veshoko, Vabati Vevhangeri and Chiedza Chevatendi, who further enhanced the rise of the popular type of gospel music.
Vabati vaJehova group is still going strong and to date, they have released more than 17 albums and collaborated with contemporary musicians.
They collaborated with Jah Prayzer on fambai naro shoko, with Winky D on Ngirozi, with Kudzi Nyakudya on Nguva yakwana among other collaborations with different artists.
The group has also gone International and in 2019 they traveled to the United Kingdom for their first outside the African continent tour.
The now lead singer, Richard Magaya a younger brother to the late founders told the media that they were delighted to get the chance to play live for their fans in the UK at a show which was penciled for April 27 at the Banqueting Suite in Coventry.
“This is our first tour overseas, and we have been preparing for it for a long time. We are happy that we have finally made it though it’s only a one day show. Our UK fans will have the opportunity to sample our latest album, Tivavarire Denga, which has been well received on the local market and some songs from the other album to be released soon,” Magaya had said.
The group were awarded with many awards over the years and in 2012 were awarded with a legendary award at a colourful event held at the Harare International Conference Centre.
The event was organised by ZimPraise to honour gospel music legends.