Visually Impaired gospel musician Velapi Gumbo (VG) has called upon the Zimbabwe music industry to give equal chance to musicians with disabilities so that they can prove their talent.
Speaking during an interview at his brand promotion in Harare over the weekend, the Bulawayo based musician said disability is not inability in the music industry.
“If musicians were given a chance they could also do competently like the able bodied counterparts.
“My wish is that we are given a chance in the music industry even though we are disabled so that people will know that the voice behind this disability is not disabled but it is abled and far reaching.” Velapi Gumbo said.
VG is signed up by a music production company called Canary Media and currently has nine gospel albums. He sings in Ndebele, Shona and English.
Velapi Gumbo urged fellow musicians with disability to “keep on keeping on.”
“They should not be devastated, they should not be sad. One day this God of chances who we worship is going to unveil different chances to them which will help them to start climbing the ladder of success.” He said.
Meanwhile, Canary Media Programs Manager, Mrs Lisa Gutu praised VG for his talent saying they signed him not because they felt sorry for him but because of his unmatched talent.
” VG is just talented and without focusing on anything else he is just focused on his work. He is actually international.
“He can stand next to any other international artist and prove his prowess. So we are just giving a brand a microphone, we then sought stakeholders and produced his music.
“The idea was just to amplify his creativity and his excellency. We were not feeling sorry for him because of his disability, he lives on music and he never bergs.” She said.