Manyeruke hangs up guitar after 47 years of singing

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Legendary gospel musician Baba Mechanic Manyeruke has called it quits after a long and fulfilling career that spanned almost half a century.

The ageless musician who is one of the pioneers of Gospel music in the country said that he is now retiring from music in order to spend more time with his family and to give young musicians a chance to shine.

Baba Mechanic Manyeruke started his career as a gospel musician 48 years ago in 1973 and will be turning 79 later on this year.

He announced his decision to retire from music to local publication H-Metro shortly after he performed at the 41st Uhuru Gala held at the Harare International Conference Centre over the weekend.

The musician who is the father of Zim Dancehall chanter Guspy Warrior said that he will be devoting his time and energy to developing his rural home in Masvori Village, Chiundura, Midlands.

“I started entertaining crowds in 1973 and you can see that it has been a long journey but there is a time when one needs to call it quits.
“…I have a beautiful rural home where I have erected a borehole so I also want to save the community but providing them with safe drinking water.”

Baba Mechanic Manyeruke Calls It Quits After Almost 50 Years

Baba Manyeruke said that he will only be available to perform on very special occasions and at private events. He, however, made it clear that he is now done with performing in public.

Though he started performing in 1973 at an open-air concert in Dzivarasekwa, it was not until 1984 that Baba Manyeruke released his first album. He released an album titled Chirema Mutembere and later Zakeyo which was a commercial success after going through a torrid time with record companies and producers.

At the time, record companies were reluctant to record a gospel album because they believed there was no market for it, and they were not recording gospel singers in Zimbabwe.

However, thanks to Baba Mechanic Manyeruke’s initial determination and tenacity, the Gospel genre is firmly established and flourishing.

–H-Metro