Afro-Pop and soul artist Blessa is spreading a powerful message of love, peace, and motivation to his fans through his fourth album, titled Ndi Murumiwa (I am a messenger), which was released two months ago.
Blessa, born Phathutshedzo Marandela from Gaba village near Thohoyandou, said the album had been received with immense love and support from his followers. The 17-track album's title was influenced by the word Murumiwa, which means "messenger", as he sees himself as someone sent to deliver messages from God. The album features guest appearances from artists such as Prifix, Papa Thile, and Ramzeey.
"My fans have shown that they are enjoying the album, and it was evident from the response we got from online platforms. The album was influenced by love, hope, and positive energy of encouragement, and I hope that my music will inspire people to love and appreciate one another in life," he said.
Blessa said he had started the project in 2019 and had been supposed to be released in 2020, but due to other commitments, the album had been delayed. "The album generally received favourable reviews from music critics. It is on high rotation on radio stations. The most popular songs are Ndi Murumiwa (title track) and Biko la Muphandi," he said.
His love of music started at the age of four, singing along to records on the radio and playing on self-made instruments. As he grew older, he began learning to play the keyboard and guitar at the Faith Harvest church. His music journey was influenced largely by African artists such as Davido and Eddy Kenzo.
Two years ago, Blessa released a single, titled Vhutshilo ha Ntha, which gained him a steady fan-base and larger audiences through Spotify and other online platforms. He said that his fans could be on the look-out for his upcoming new single that he was currently working on.