If you have never heard of John Pfumojena you soon will. Either through this article or the certain-to-be-hot album that he is working on. We could introduce him by saying that he went to Prince Edward school with Sam Mtukudzi or by saying that he sometimes plays with the latter and that the two are great friends, but the best way to introduce him is by his own merits because he has enough of those to stand as his own outstanding musician.

^ Rising Star- John Pfumojena.

I first heard John sing at a show where he wasn’t even on the programme. The main act was taking long to get ready and John, who was one of the backing singers, took the microphone and started doing a cover version of You Raise Me Up I think it was.

So picture this, everyone in the room is chatting away. At one table there is raucous laughter as someone cracks some bad jokes to a tipsy group of people. No one is paying attention to the stage. Then someone picks up the microphone and starts singing and still no one is paying attention.

The singer hits a note so high that even in the absent mindedness of those present, it strikes a chord. All of a sudden the room is quiet. Everyone is listening now.

By the time he finishes there is awe in the air and the last note is followed by thunderous applause. John smiles and bows. He knows he has done well.

John Pfumojena refined his music skills while at Prince Edward from 2000 to 2007. He sang in the choir, learnt to play the marimbas and the mbira. He is also a talented actor, having taken part in the highly acclaimed play Loupe (HIFA 2008, Theatre in the Park 2008) and more recently Oedipus (HIFA 2009).

He now performs regularly at the Book Café with his band Mnandi. His song Ndoda Maivangu is already a hit among regulars to his shows. During his performance at the Thuba Lethu Nguva Yedu Our Time Festival at the Book Café earlier this year, one visitor from Kenya came up to me and asked: “Who is that guy?” “John Pfumojena,” I said. “Wow,” came the awed response, “what a voice he has.”

Those notes. John can really hit them. The high ones that make you wonder if his voice ever broke- then he brings it down and a few notches reminding you that it did- teasing your eardrums all the way.

John is now recording an album with Zimbabwean music maestro, Clive ‘Mono’ Mkundu, which he is planning to have out by the end of the year.

When it comes out, you can bet your last dollar there will be many more people saying: “Wow, what a voice he has.”

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Amy Lee   |2009-05-19 02:41:05 Johniiiieeeeee!!!!! Reply 0   0

Kim   |2009-05-23 04:02:53 John is a very talented young man. I wish him much success Reply 0   0

last   |2009-07-28 12:51:47 Mwana wangu iyeye!!! Reply 0   0

chenge magosha   |2009-12-08 09:27:00 i think john rocks his one talented man with a great voice and is just the best. john you talented!!! Reply 0   0

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