19 Jan 2020

Twenty-seven- year old Abigail Muzenda believes that with RnB and Soul she can better spread her message.

She uses music to share with her audience whatever is on her mind.

Apart from communicating with the world through music, she further explained that her singing is a God-given talent, which was inspirational enough for her to start singing.

“I have it in me to put emotion in my singing.

Playing the character that will make anyone whose listening to understand the message I’m trying to put across.

And truly speaking, I see this as a God-given talent because it has built a strong conviction in me that I should not deprive the world of my art.

There’s something about my singing that should impact the world.

I call it purpose,” she explained.

Having such a talent and being able to put it into good use is not surprising as this muso looks up to some of the most impressive musicians such as Whitney Houston, Oliver Mtukuzi and Mariam Makeba.

“These people are phenomenal musicians that don’t just perform,  but have made people feel that their musical ability was out of this world,” she said, explaining that these legends had a way of communicating through their music.

They had a way of putting emotion in their music as well as their performances such that it lingers in the fans for a while, something that she sees as unique and inspiring; hence motivating her to go all out and use the best of her abilities.

Going back to her singing career, Muzenda, popurlarly known as Ms Abbey in the music circle, started singing when she was 10.

However, she started taking music seriously about three years ago when pursuing her education at Limkokwing University of Creative Arts and Technology.

“I took music serious or should I say professionally three years ago when I had just got to Limkokwing to pursue my BA Hons in Broadcasting and Journalism.

I had actually gone to the studio within the University to do a voice over for one of my assignments, but I met an old friend of mine, Johnson Mokotedi, who heard me sing years ago at a wedding in Orapa.

He was so excited to see me so much that he introduced me to his brother Jonathan and Qbio & Tafnaz.

They were all in the studio at that time and requested that I sing for them.

I wasn’t so confident, but I also had nothing to lose.

So I sang for them not knowing that it was the beginning of something great,” she explained.

With her great voice, she impressed her audience such that Tafnaz later introduced her to Rahman (The man in charge of JazzXChange) who decided to take her under his wing.

Rahman partnered her with Viven Dakpo Nwako, Zuziwe Mavuma, Bundulama.

She also featured in Tafnaz’ JazzXChange until she finally got her own JazzXChange early last year on March the 31 at Cresta Lodge.

“This was a great experience because I believed very much that he was training me and preparing me for something greater,” she said.

Through JazzXChange, she got the opportunity to meet Akhutleleng Mogami, who made her one of the lead singers for the Botswana Society of Jazz Big Band.

This opportunity opened more doors for her as she managed to perform on big platforms such as the DeBeers Private Shareholders meeting, Masire Foundation Dinner and International Jazz Day concerts, just to mention a few.

“Early last year I came out as a solo musician performing at the Stanbic Gin Fest., Jameson Connect, BDP women’s wing annual high tea and the Truth Entertainment Lifestyle Magazine launch.

This led to me recording a song with Dj Chabo last year and also releasing my first single titled Vacation,” she said.
Her song with Dj Chabo titled Fun times was impressive and well received, hence prompted her to release Vacation, which was released about five months back.

“Vacation was actually about anyone who has been working so hard and is in need of a vacation.

It doesn’t even have to be an office job, just the fact that you’ve been working so hard is enough.

It was influenced by a friend of mine who was complaining about her job.

She actually wanted to quit, but I told her that she just needed a vacation and that’s how the song came to being,” she explained proudly.

After the release of Vacation, Ms Abbey dropped her second single titled Gata Koseni, which was released on her birthday, November 27.

“I recorded this song with my producer, Simba Moyo from Optimusic.

He stays in South Africa together with Ofentse King Caddy Motsoane, who is featured in the song. It’s a song that was personally inspired me because I honesty don’t desire mediocre love, but something real and as good as a breathe of fresh air.

I decided to release the song on my birthday to celebrate how far I’ve come and also looking on what’s ahead,” she explained hinting that she was looking forward to dropping an album and hopefully collaborating with an international artiste in the future.

She further confessed that her songs were well received and she had not encountered any setbacks regardless of the fact that she was self-managing at the moment.

“To be honest with you, I haven’t yet encountered any challenges, the way everything have been slowly taking shape has just shown me that it’s God at work,” she said.

Apart from music, Ms Abbey is also a news reporter and a content creator at Access TV, where she continues to show her creativity.

“I have produced a show called Femme Talk, where we get different women from around Botswana to discuss the lifestyle of a woman looking at their different backgrounds and ideologies,” she said showing that her creative thinking goes beyond singing.

Lastly, being a songstress and a media personnel has proven not to be a burden to Ms Abbey as she thrills in being creative and sharing her art with the world.

She views this as a God-given talent that she has embraced and enjoys, hence making it easier for her to look forward to her duties.

“I always say this and I will keep saying it to encourage everyone out there.

If you aren’t doing what you love, then you’re wasting your time.

Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do it.

I enjoy what I do and therefore, I give it my all,” she said. Ends