Talent: Mpeta wants to become a top gospel artiste

Hearing his high soft soprano from a distance, you do not want him to stop singing but rather feel compelled to pull closer to listen more to the rhythmic melodies seeping out of his young voice. It is 11-year-old Asher Sheja Mpeta we are talking about. We all need some encouragement to keep us going, and for Mpeta, it was his dad’s push that has propelled him forward to embrace singing. “My dad overheard me singing one day and was impressed. He recorded me in action using his phone and urged me to keep singing. From that moment, I gave singing more time and I have since joined the school choir to improve my vocals,” he says. The pupil of Kigali Parents School feels blessed to be among the team that entertains the public, especially during big events at school. However, Mpeta’s focus is to sing gospel music because he believes that it is one of the best ways to minister to people. “Mpeta is very passionate about singing and his vocals are so good. We have high hopes in him as a career singer. We as the school continue to encourage him to grow his talent, especially during music lessons,” says Charles Mutazihana, the principal of Kigali parents. Mpeta’s favourite gospel artiste is Nigerian-born Sinach. Her song, “I know who I am,” is his best gospel tune. For now, he is focusing on his studies since he is in his P.6, but he says he will use the vacation to write and record a number of gospel songs with the help of his parents. Although his mum wants him to study law, his desire is to pursue both MDD and law. “What keeps my voice fresh is that I take much water, an egg a day and I avoid fried snacks. But I also do a lot of vocal trainings,” he says. Mpeta believes that he will be among Rwanda’s renowned gospel artistes because music is not something he will trade for something else. “With passion, support and training, anyone can be a good singer, even if they don’t have a strong talent in the field. The art can develop with time,” Mpeta notes.

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Talent: Mpeta wants to become a top gospel artiste