Local reggae legend Rudzani "Shufflers" Ragimana, also known by some of his fans as "The Reggae Prophet", will release his latest music offering this month.
Ragimana, who has been a science teacher at Selemale Secondary School for the past three decades, got the nickname "Prophet" after he had released an album with a very popular track, called Shango lo vhifha Muvhilini, literally translated as "The country is pregnant", about 10 years ago. The song refers to the troubles in our country, asking God for divine intervention. Today, a dark cloud hangs over his beloved village of Makonde, and since the problems have caused a division in the once peaceful village about three years ago, his fans started calling him "The Reggae Prophet".
Ragimana cut his teeth in the reggae music industry with the release of his album Ndi nga na ndafa in 1998. The title track, Ndi nga na ndafa (I'd rather die than leave you my love), was like a national anthem to both young and old reggae fanatics and played on every one of the local radio stations and even at weddings around the country.
Chatting to Limpopo Mirror at Tshilamba on Saturday, 25 February, he said he was actually born into a family of prophets. "I don't even write down those prophetic songs. The moment I step into the recording studio, the words just come naturally and all I do is sing," he said.
About his latest album, he said he had recorded the songs some time ago and was now just going over the final touches. "I think this is going to be my best offering to date. I recorded it with Mulalo Mukwevho, one of the finest South African music producers at the moment," he said.
His two back-up singers, Ms Tendani Ragimana (his wife) and Ms Maavhelwana, have also released their own albums under his guidance.