FEATURE – The soaring harmonies of Zimbabwean and South African gospel filled Melbourne’s Lifehouse Church on Sunday evening, as more than six hundred people gathered for the Australian leg of the growing Afripraise Gospel Music Tour. What began as a regional initiative has now become a global movement, carrying African worship, culture and stories of spiritual renewal across continents.

The tour is led by Zimbabwean producer and visionary Joseph Madziyire, whose work with African gospel ensembles has positioned him as one of the most influential cultural ambassadors of his generation. Speaking about the purpose of Afripraise, he explained that the goal is to “take African music all around the world, introduce the richness of our culture, and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ through the gift of music.”

Madziyire said that each performance is designed not only as entertainment but as an opportunity to share what he calls “secondary encounters,” meaning the personal spiritual experiences that artists have had with God during their journeys of faith. “Every song carries a testimony,” he said, “and we want people to feel that encounter, wherever they are in the world.”

Organisers have assembled a roster of top Zimbabwean and South African gospel artists.  Headliners include Everton Mlalazi, an awardwinning singer who is a longtime member of the prominent “Spirit of Praise” ensemble,  along with worship leaders Siyakha Khitha , Danmore Elsha Mandebvu and Blessing “Annatoria” Chitapa, the husband and wife duo Ellard & Sharon Cherayi, singer Mellisa Makwasha, Desire Makoni and Mathias Mhere, among others.  Each artist blends traditional African rhythms with contemporary worship styles to appeal to diverse audiences.  For example, Everton Mlalazi’s background with Spirit of Praise has made him well known across the region , and his solo worship ministry (The Vine Music Ministry) adds to the tour’s international draw.

The Australian debut in Melbourne clearly tapped into this demand.  Last night well over 600 people packed the LifeHouse Church in Westmeadows for a spirited night of worship and music.  (Melbourne is known to host a significant Zimbabwean community , so the strong turnout was not a surprise.)  The hall was filled with worshippers swaying and clapping, many of them singing along to Shona and Ndebele choruses.  After the concert, several attendees spoke of feeling joy and relief from everyday cares, describing the event as both a spiritual gathering and a minihomecoming. One longtime Melbourne resident said the AfriLegacy concert made her feel like she was “back in Harare for a night,” as friends and family had come together to celebrate their shared culture.  Organisers noted that the crowd’s enthusiasm, and calls for more shows, suggests high demand: people here truly want more performances of this kind to keep their culture alive in Australia.

Throughout the evening, the atmosphere shifted from high-energy praise to moments of quiet worship. Some attendees shared how the music lifted emotional burdens. Several spoke of relief from depression, stress and anxiety, describing the night as unexpectedly healing.

One attendee said, “I walked in feeling heavy, and I left with hope I did not expect.” Another remarked that the music made them feel “seen and understood in a way that is hard to put into words.”

Zimbabwean comedian and actress Tyra Chikocho Munetsiwa, better known as Madam Boss, attended the Melbourne show. “Afripraise should have more than one show a year,” she said, “because it is something that keeps people connected with their roots.”

Sahwira International Plan, a major sponsor of the tour, views Afripraise as a strategic way to strengthen relationships with Zimbabwean communities abroad.

Ms Grace Chimedza, Marketing and Digital Manager for Sahwira International Plan, said, “Sahwira International Plan has been a major sponsor of this tour with the intention to reach the many Zimbabweans in the international communities.”

For many in the diaspora, especially those living far from home, the event was as much a cultural reunion as a concert. Some families came dressed in African attire, children danced in the aisles, and the crowd repeatedly erupted into ululations that echoed across the sanctuary.

Madziyire said this response is exactly what he hoped for. “Music has the power to bring people together. We want to give the diaspora moments that remind them of home, faith and belonging.”

The Afripraise’s AfriLegacy Music Tour has already travelled through Cape Town, Scotland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and  now rolls into Australia, with its Melbourne show drawing an enthusiastic crowd.The strategy clearly targets Africa’s far flung communities: Australia alone has an estimated 80,000 people of Zimbabwean origin , many living in cities like Sydney and Melbourne, so there is a large diaspora audience for these concerts. More international dates will be announced soon, as demand continues to rise across diaspora hubs worldwide.

What began as a small initiative has grown into a bridge between continents, cultures and communities. As testimonies of emotional healing and spiritual renewal multiply, Afripraise is emerging as something larger than a concert series. For many, it is a reconnection with identity, faith and the music of home.