Reverend Chivaviro shocked by Popularity of his hit song Ebenezer

Reverend Chivaviro

GOSPEL musician Togarepi Chivaviro, who has been riding the crest of a wave with his latest hit, Ebenezer –Tiri Munyasha, has expressed “shock” over the rise of the song which was a major hit last year.

The song — which is accompanied by a video and features fellow artistes including Charles Charamba, Mechanic Manyeruke, Noel Zembe and Kudzai Nyakudya — was on number one on Star FM Gospel Greats Top 50, number three on Radio Zimbabwe’s Top 50 and National FM Top 50 and number 4 on ZimOnline Radio Top 100.

Chivaviro said although he had confidence in the song, he never imagined it dominating the music charts.

The downside of it all, however, was that it had set the bar so high that he would have to outdo himself in his forthcoming album.

Speaking from Victoria Falls, where he is on holiday courtesy of Prophet Emmanuel and Ruth Makandiwa Invitational Concert Awards Night (Permican) organisers, Chivaviro said the album’s dominance of the charts showed it was “anointed”.

“That song was catapulted by grace. We just went into the studio to record a song that was like others before it, only that this time there were many artistes featured. We are even surprised by the level it has reached,” Chivaviro said.

The album Ebenezer was released in 2014 and was extensively pirated. Chivaviro, who is based in South Africa, said it was his dream to release an album each year as a means of taking the gospel to the people.

The artiste received the 2015 Song of the Year Award for the track Ebenezer, Songwriter of the Year Award and Best Video Producer of the Year Award at the colourful Permican ceremony held in Harare. Newsday