The Magamba Network and Accountability Lab’s Arts4Change program, through their flagship project Voice2Rep (V2R), recently launched their latest album ‘Zviri Mumoyo’ in Shamva, Zimbabwe. The launch event, which doubled as a health bash, aimed to unite the community, celebrate the album’s socially conscious message, and raise awareness on crucial health-related issues.

The ‘Zviri Mumoyo’ album results from Voice2Rep’s annual competition, which brings together up-and-coming Zimbabwean singers for training, mentorship, and the opportunity to record an album collaboratively. The artists are guided by established producers and musicians, who help them integrate social justice and accountability themes into their music.

The launch event in Shamva provided a platform for the community to engage with the album’s content, which addresses critical issues such as healthcare, mental health, and the need for greater accountability from authorities.

The event featured live performances by Van Choga, Sher ZW, Lorna Real, Rachel Rashyn, Landan Boi, Mystery, and others.

Danny Nyamushamba, the Project Officer for Voice2Rep, highlighted that the ‘Zviri Mumoyo’ album serves as a platform to elevate the perspectives and experiences of those who have traditionally been excluded or overlooked.

‘’As Voice2Rep, we strengthen the voices of those in marginalized communities and upcoming artists by allowing them to take up initiatives and raise awareness about the issues happening within their communities,’’ highlighted Nyamushamba

Nyamushamba shared insights into the creative process behind the ‘Zviri Mumoyo’ album’s development and how the team collaborated and worked together to conceptualize and create the album.

‘’The artists chose the title for the album, expressing their grievances and concerns through their work. Even the album’s artwork, which depicts a heart drowning in tears, reflects the sentiments of the artists. It shows that they have issues weighing heavily on their hearts, and they have been crying out for a long time, seeking to be heard,’’ shared Nyamushamba

Nyamushamba explained that the album features a fusion of different musical genres and described how the team carefully balanced the diverse styles and influences to create a cohesive, unified sound for the album.

‘’We made an effort to work on different genres, and this year’s album is unique as it accommodated every genre, resulting in a rich album that will connect with a lot of young people. We tried to fuse all the genres, from dancehall to hip-hop and Afro-pop, to involve everyone,’’ expressed Nyamushamba

Nyamushamba highlighted how this new album differs from previous projects by Voice2Rep.

“Zviri mumoyo is different because this year we had one theme, which is based on health-related issues. This makes it easy to track the impact of the album. This album was designed as a campaign-focused project, centering around health-related concerns. Many of the artists sang about the lack of accountability from health authorities, poor service delivery, and the impact on mental health. The message was clear: the authorities have a responsibility to ensure we don’t lose lives due to these health-related issues,’’ highlighted Nyamushamba

Nyamushamba emphasized that the overall strength of the Voice2Rep program lies in collaboration.

‘’Our strength lies in collaboration. Everything we did was done through a collaborative approach, which is unique. We had a strategy to mentor the artists by involving Voice2Rep alumni to share their experiences and provide guidance. We also worked with experienced producers, grooming and mentoring the artists during the creative process. This collaboration and mentorship were our main pillars, helping each other in the creative process,’’ emphasized Nyamushamba

Panashe Gandanhamu (Sher ZW), a 2024 Voice2Rep participant who was featured on the album, explained the focus of his song “Dhorobha”

‘’My song, Dhorobha, addresses the crucial issue of mental health, which is often stigmatized or overlooked in our society. Through my music, I aim to create a safe space for people to confront and discuss their mental health struggles,’’ explained Gandanhamu

StarYvee, a 2024 Voice2Rep participant shared her most memorable experience whilst working on the ‘Zviri Mumoyo’ album.

‘’The most memorable experience I had whilst working on Zviri mumoyo was when we were in the studio recording and the producers kept on popping up with new ideas that made the album even more fun. You know the feeling of getting new perspectives and trying them out as a team, the laughter that came with trying over and over again. It was boundless energy and vibes. It showed me just how much Art is free and wild in a way that is refreshing and liberating. All in all the team work stood out the most for me,’’ shared StarYvee