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Young musician raps for Christ

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HARARE - Young rapper Owen ‘Whistle ’Chikonyora, 19, has refused to be discouraged by sceptics who regard hip-hop music and Christianity as polar opposites.

The Harare-based musician believes that hip-hop — which has a big following among the youths is the ideal platform to fight alcohol and drug abuse and in the process promoting Christian values.

“I chose rap music because it appeals to a large part of my targeted audience — the young,” Chikonyora told the Daily News yesterday.

The eloquent young rapper is convinced that the only way to reach young people is by communicating to them through the music genres that they prefer.

“I am trying to lure the youths and free them from the mental enslavement that is being brought about through social networks,” he said.

“People are being influenced by things that destroy their souls, things like drugs, alcoholism and access to free porn on the Internet. I believe that young people can be rehabilitated through positive Christian rap.”

Chikonyora burst on to the music scene last year with the single This Life which gives an overview of the struggles that young people face in Zimbabwe.

Whistle, as Chikonyora is popularly known among his growing band of young fans, then released You need Jesus and The Letter which have been widely played on local radio stations.

The young musician traces his interest in music to his days at Waddilove Primary School.

“At the age of 11, I did public performances and became popular at Waddilove Primary for my song called Xing Xong.

“From that early age I drew poetic inspiration from biblical greats like David, Solomon and Job. Contemporary hip-hop artistes Lacrae and Mudiwa Hood are my role models.”

Whistle has just released an eight-track album called The New Beginning.

The riveting album revolves around such tracks as We in the church, Tave kumberi, Heaven Knows My Name, Inyasha and the title track, The New Beginning.

Chikonyora told the Daily News that the new album was inspired by poetic biblical books like Proverbs, Psalms and Ecclesiastes.

“I preach through poetic biblical books like Proverbs, Psalms and Ecclesiastes, and I try to demonstrate how authors of those books expressed their love for God through poetry,” he said.

“This new album talks about how people tried to discourage me from doing gospel music. It is basically a new beginning for me and I am glad that some of the tracks on the album are already receiving great reviews.”


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