In the Gospel music genre, there are those who are worshippers and those who are singers.
Those who are worshippers have the ability to touch God's heart and inevitably touch the hearts of men.
Award-winning gospel group Redeemed are in this not only to sing and be famous, but also to touch lives and minister through their music.
Members Terence Ramatselela, Bafana Nkosi, Stephen Molakeng, Mojalefa Thebe and Rampa Masoko are talented.
Some of them have worked in secular projects, but their spiritual roots are firmly grounded in spreading the gospel through their music.
This was confirmed by band member Thebe who has worked and produced many kwaito albums for artists' such as Zahara, Mzekezeke and Brown Dash.
"My heart is with Redeemed. All members of the group are successful in their different ventures, but Redeemed is important to us because we do not take gospel music as a career, it is a calling," he says.
Molakeng was previously involved in house music and has also worked with local giants including singer Judith Sephuma.
The group made its name in 2000 with their first single titled Mdumiseni, which was recorded under Redeemed Records.
The group's youthful tune was so popular with Metro FM listeners that they nominated it in the station's Best Gospel Album category.
After a long dry spell, the group came up with a 14-track album called God Is Able under Universal Music.
"We decided to do a follow-up project after pressure from family, friends and fans. The album was recorded in 2010, but we were only able to release it in May because of our heavy work schedules.
"People who had seen us perform in churches and events were always telling us that we needed to do something," says Ramatselela.
About 80 percent of the songs on the album God Is Able were written and composed by the group while the rest are traditional.
"We polished old school traditional gospel music songs to accommodate our elderly fans. While some tracks are American-inspired gospel tunes, most are truly South African gospel numbers that will revive the spirit," he says.
The album features well-known artists such as Sechaba Pali, Thabo Mdluli, Patrick Duncan, Kekeletso Phoofolo, Nqubeko Mbatha, Ntokozo Mbambo-Mbatha, Mahalia Buchaman and Lulama Gqanabisa. - johnz@sowetan.co.za
Redeemed stays true to its Gospel calling
In the Gospel music genre, there are those who are worshippers and those who are singers.
Those who are worshippers have the ability to touch God's heart and inevitably touch the hearts of men.
Award-winning gospel group Redeemed are in this not only to sing and be famous, but also to touch lives and minister through their music.
Members Terence Ramatselela, Bafana Nkosi, Stephen Molakeng, Mojalefa Thebe and Rampa Masoko are talented.
Some of them have worked in secular projects, but their spiritual roots are firmly grounded in spreading the gospel through their music.
This was confirmed by band member Thebe who has worked and produced many kwaito albums for artists' such as Zahara, Mzekezeke and Brown Dash.
"My heart is with Redeemed. All members of the group are successful in their different ventures, but Redeemed is important to us because we do not take gospel music as a career, it is a calling," he says.
Molakeng was previously involved in house music and has also worked with local giants including singer Judith Sephuma.
The group made its name in 2000 with their first single titled Mdumiseni, which was recorded under Redeemed Records.
The group's youthful tune was so popular with Metro FM listeners that they nominated it in the station's Best Gospel Album category.
After a long dry spell, the group came up with a 14-track album called God Is Able under Universal Music.
"We decided to do a follow-up project after pressure from family, friends and fans. The album was recorded in 2010, but we were only able to release it in May because of our heavy work schedules.
"People who had seen us perform in churches and events were always telling us that we needed to do something," says Ramatselela.
About 80 percent of the songs on the album God Is Able were written and composed by the group while the rest are traditional.
"We polished old school traditional gospel music songs to accommodate our elderly fans. While some tracks are American-inspired gospel tunes, most are truly South African gospel numbers that will revive the spirit," he says.
The album features well-known artists such as Sechaba Pali, Thabo Mdluli, Patrick Duncan, Kekeletso Phoofolo, Nqubeko Mbatha, Ntokozo Mbambo-Mbatha, Mahalia Buchaman and Lulama Gqanabisa. - johnz@sowetan.co.za
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