Gospel musician Jerdan Paradise eyes global profil...

Gospel musician Jerdan Paradise eyes global profile

Zim Now Writer

Gospel Musician Jerdan Paradise says he has set his sights on attaining international status following the success of his third album Kadosh (Holy).

Kadosh was released last year but shot him to fame as he now gets regional invitations.

The 29-year-old gospel singer, who intends to do collaborations with international artists he has met so far, told Zim Now in an interview that this year alone, he has been out of the country four times.

“This year alone, I have been out of Zimbabwe four times to stage shows. I have been to South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia (twice) to perform.

“I am now connecting with big regional and international musicians and looking forward to doing collaborations with them.

“In 10 years’ time I think I will be big. In only a few years, I am getting international invitations. I have been to South Africa to perform, especially at Apostolic Faith Mission events.

“Big names such as my musical mentor, Takesure Zamar Ncube, who also attended my album launch, Ndozvinoita Nyasha hitmaker, Jonah Chivasa and Kuda Mutsvene among others. In fact, I should be talking about the next five years. I recently did a cover for Nigerian gospel musician, Ebuka’s I Will Pray. I did a Shona version of it and received calls from all over.

Jerdan, who is married to Madeline Mugobera – who is also a musician – thanked his fans for their continued support which he said was responsible for his growth.

“Their encouragement urges me on and I would like to do better each day. The constructive criticism that I get from them is amazing and I wish this could continue. I am planning to release another single next week

Besides being a gospel musician, Jerdan is also an ordained minister. “I was ordained in August 2017 during a conference called Mock Conference at Victory Power International Ministries. I am also a music teacher at Tangengamo Primary School in Chitungwiza.

Jerdan grew up in Chipadze, Bindura in Mshonaland Central Province. “Together with my wife, Madeline we were blessed with one son, Believe Mukudzei Paradise, named after my spiritual father Believe Paradise. The talent was there as I was grew up because I used to sing at Chipindura Primary School as well as at the church choir at the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian,” Jerdan said.

After primary school, Jerdan went Hermann Gmeiner in Bindura where he continued with music.

“When I was in Form Two, I was elected Mayor of the Allied Arts Festival and I started teaching music to other students while in Form Four. Thereafter, I left everything and focused on music. I enrolled with the Zimbabwe College of Music where I graduated with a degree in Music and Performing Arts.

Jerdan said he is now a fulltime musician. “I take music as a career. I get my money from music but it is also a passion. I really enjoy music and love singing even if I’m not getting paid,” he said.

The gospel singer said he now has three albums to his name, Apostolic Gospel Vol 1 (2019), Bakatwa (2021), and the third one, Kadosh (Holy) released on March 19, 2022.

“The first one was received fairly well. It was my first time and I got over US$1 000 on the official launch at Victory Power International Church in Chitungwiza. There were limitations on my second album because of the Covid-19 restrictions that were in place then. I could not reach other places to sell the music to people. With Kadosh, the story was different with over 300 people attending the launch at Robbie Mupawose Hall at the Harare Exhibition Park. I sold only 8 CDs and got US$7 900. So, my third album had a good reception. It is being played in many churches.