Rich music experience unfolding in poor, Gauteng township

In the densely-populated, poor and crime-ridden Gauteng township of Diepsloot, God spoke to the heart of a senior city academic, Dr Darlingtong Mushongera, to use music to uplift people and win souls for the Kingdom of God.

“My prayer to God is to use music to draw them closer to God, take them out of the streets and out of drugs and other vices and bring sanity, hope and joy,”  said the Gauteng city-region observatory (GCRO) senior researcher who was recently awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree by the University of Witwatersrand.

Dr Mushongera conducts music lessons for the Diepsloot branch of the Apostolic Faith Mission of Africa at the Whispering Hope Music Academy which meets every Saturday for theory and practice sessions.

“Whispering Hope Music Academy has become a family and everyone always looks forward to the sessions and playing their instrument playing.

“I give glory to God that Whispering Hope is up and running and is growing daily as more people are registering interest in music. Their lives have changed as they now feel a sense of belonging.

“Whispering Hope is not just a music academy but, members are also taught to be upright Christians. Before every music lesson there is a sermon from the Word of God and members are taught to love, support and help one another,” he said.

He said: “When others don’t have money to travel, Whispering Hope always makes an effort to assist , either by providing a lift or providing money for a taxi. It has been such a wonderful thing that God has done for us as Whispering Hope.”

Applauding Dr Mushongera for his achievements, Reverend Rosewell Zulu, the chancellor of the academy and international and general overseer of the AFM of Africa quoted Proverbs 16:3 ‘Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established’. 

He said that he himself also learnt to play the harp within a very short period of time through the blessing that he received from the late overseer Philemon Sibanda.

“I am a product of a blessing, I play the harp, guitar and other instruments because a blessing was pronounced on me,” he said.

Mushongera said he did not study music formally but he had always had a passion for music.

Learning at Whispering Hope is free. Learners do not pay anything except their time and passion. It is an ageless class.

“We have learners from 6-months-old babies to adults in their 60s and 70s. We focus more on instrument playing and we hope that God will be glorified through music.

“Music and instrument playing is a vital part of Christian worship, and the Bible is full of instruments. In Solomon’s temple, there were instrument players. Musical instruments are called ‘the Lord’s musical instruments‘ (2 Chron 7:6), they belong to none other than the Lord himself. They were manufactured ‘for praising the Lord’ (2 Chron 7:6).

“The chronicler makes clear, furthermore, that the Levitical ministry of music – instruments and musicians included – had been “commanded by the Lord through his prophets (2 Chron 29:25). I went on to study the philosophy of music and discovered that music is divine, it’s of a heavenly origin and as a Christian, what better sport to engage in that will draw you closer to God than Music?

“I also learned about the power of music, that it improves brain power and the ability of children to solve problems and understand difficult subjects like science and mathematics. Two more music academies have emerged. There is Amazing Grace Music Academy at the AFMA Headquarters in Bulawayo, which I teach and there is Blessed Assurance Music Academy in the United Kingdom which I also teach online and already they are performing in church.”

Mushongera’s wish is for his learners to play like professionals abroad. “I also would like to travel the world with them to perform but mostly to learn. Maybe one day we will be able to stage the famous Oratorio by George Fredrick Handel, Messiah, the iconic musical piece that is performed all over the world.

“My dream is that one day, Handel’s Messiah be performed in Diepsloot. I am sincerely hoping that Whispering Hope will spread its tentacles and start reaching out to communities beyond the church and that Whispering Hope Music Academy will be a registered non-profit organisation, with its own premises and hopefully will create jobs for some.

“Already members of the Whispering Hope Strings section have been granted a full scholarship by American-based Violin Lab. This is an online teaching resource, that was offered to us generously by the creator of Violin Lab, Beth Blackerby. We are so grateful to be able to access professional, prepared resources that will take our violin playing to the next level” he said. 

Dr Mushongera’s academic qualifications include:

a. PhD in Town and Regional Planning – University of the Witwatersrand (Final year)
b. MPhil Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies – University of the Western Cape (2013)
c. MSc Rural and Urban Planning – University of Zimbabwe (2004)
d. BSc Economics honours – University of Zimbabwe (1994)

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