Raymond masters the art of Reggae

Raymond Mukwevho (31), the grandson of the godfather of Tshivenda music, Vho-Ntsieni Christopher Mukwevho, has mastered the art of Reggae in his own right.

His grandfather was the founder and lead vocalist for the Thrilling Artist band, so Raymond’s musical genesis started early on at his parental home in Tshitomboni tsha ha-Mmbubana.

“Music runs in my family,” he said. “I grew up to be very close to my grandparents and I felt like their son. My grandad used to come over to our house studio almost every day to play the piano, and I would sit with him because I enjoyed seeing him play. He would ask me to play a shaker to keep the beat while he sang. I would also join him as backing vocalist, so I guess that is where my music interest started.

His mother, Muthuhadini Nita Mukwevho, was also a backing vocalist for The Comforters’ Month End Lover album, led by Colbert Mukwevho. “So, music also runs in my genes,” he said.

At the age of 12, Raymond was already playing the keyboard at church and graduated to the bass guitar when he was 14. He became an excellent bass guitarist under the tutelage of his uncle, Humbulani Mukwevho.

“Between the ages of 14 and 16, I played the keyboard at graduation ceremonies for my grandparents’ crèche with Christopher Mukwevho on backing vocals,” he said. “During this period, my grandfather also joined us with the indigenous African musical instrument called the mbila.”

After Raymond completed his matric, he went to study music at Sound of Sounds in Johannesburg, where he majored in sound engineering. “I later went on to study for my Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and graduated in 2017,” he said. “While I was busy with my studies, I also worked on my music and to enhance my skills, making music from my bedroom studio.” He currently works full time as an IT specialist.

His debut album, Zwikhouni balela, was released in October 2019, and in October this year, he released his second album, titled Vhutshivha. The album comprises 11 songs, including Vhutshivha, Katarayanga, Aritshaidzhena, My intention, and Ndinae, and is available online for streaming and purchasing.

Raymond Mukwevho is available on social media platforms and can be reached on Tel 073 039 6875.

Entertainment - Date: 04 December 2021

Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

Email: [email protected]