Zimbabwe's new gospel diva

Zimbabwe's new gospel diva

• VISIT: Sandy Ministries

• FYA's Emma: the pursuit of a dream

By Showbiz Reporter
VISIT SANDY'S WEBSITE: http://www.sandyministries.com/

WITH the body of a supermodel and a voice of an angel, a church in the heart of Maryland, United States, is probably the last place where you would expect to find 27-year-old Sandra Karanda -- Zimbabwe's answer to J Lo.

In an exclusive interview with New Zimbabwe.com from her US base, Karanda -- a Master's Degree and PhD in Clinical Psychology student -- opened her heart to reveal a life dedicated to helping the poor and spreading the World of God.

After converting to the Christian religion at the age of 17, Karanda won a scholarship to study Computer Information Systems at Strayer University in Alexandria -- beginning an intriguing journey into the Christian world which saw her release two gospel albums starting with the 2001 Joy Unspeakable and then Apple of his Eyes last year.

Tracing her musical roots, she has vivid memories of her amateur musician father and his guitar while she was growing up in Harare.

"I just got inspired to sing," she said. "My first passion was dance, so I took dance classes, which I continue to do up to this day. It's all just for fun though, but singing is a calling from God. Music is my life. When I sing and dance, I find peace and joy because it is my comfort zone."

Sandy, as she prefers to be known, founded Sandy Ministries and runs a website, but stresses that it is not a church -- just a religious movement and vehicle for social change.

"In my Christian walk, and my deep love for children I found that God wanted me to do more than just sing," she says. "Sandy Ministries is for everyone -- the umbrella body of my music, Yamuri Children's Foundation (an organisation she founded for orphans in Zimbabwe), prayer partnership, bible study and different outreach projects."

Talking about her album, Apple of His Eyes, she said it was borne out of the realities of racial profiling in the United States where she has also taken up modelling and contested for Miss Zimbabwe USA. She says the song also carries stories of betrayal by friends and those that she trusted. In the title track, she drops the question: "Have you ever been in a crowd and yet you felt so all alone?"

She said: "My album is a reflection of everything that I've personally gone through. The title Apple of His Eyes basically sums it all for me, because as foreigners, like it or not, we are treated differently. That's why it is important that we keep faith and stay close to God to conquer any challenges that come our way.

"I also learnt that the world we live in is full of people who think they know you. I used to worry a lot about what people had to say about me and found myself always explaining things instead of worrying about what I was doing for God. I have learned that people will be people, and my trust should be in God and not man."

She says the album sold well in the US, particularly in Virginia but she has not yet signed a deal with a Zimbabwean distributor to make it available in the country. She said she had received several deals from Zimbabwean record companies.

"I just want to make sure that I make the right decision before signing a contract. Being overseas, I don't want to be bound to an exclusive deal that would hinder me from signing other deals here in the USA. I believe the CD will be out there in a few weeks."

So consumed in the Christian calling is Sandy that all discussions somehow end up with a reference to God, like when I raised the issue of the economic hardships faced by many Zimbabweans.

"I understand what is going on in Zimbabwe because my family still lives there. I still believe that there is still hope for Zimbabwe through God. Of late, there has been a clampdown on civil liberties, and many Christians and children have been affected by the clean-up operations (Operation Murambatsvina). It's worrying."

Born to a family of three - two girls and a boy -- Sandy was raised up as a Catholic, and then got "saved" when she joined the Full Gospel Church aged 17. A year later, in 1996, she left on a scholarship. She feels the bond between her and her relatives who remain in Zimbabwe has grown, and so has her faith.

"One's faith is actually strengthened through the absence of one’s family. When you are far away from your family, you learn to lean on God and become close to him more than ever. Fellow church members become your family, and I am sure many other Zimbabweans have gone through a similar thing," she observed.

When she is not in church or at the studio, Sandy is a model, another of her passions shared by her family.

"My grandmother Margaret Simon was a model and was crowned the one and only Miss Centenary back in the day," she says. "I took after her in so many ways. After I got here, I took up modeling in 1999 and signed a contract with Jasz Productions in DC. I did runway, fashion shows, Hair Shows and featured in a few local magazines.

"When my contract was up, I signed a new contract with Uptown Models, Inc. where I got an opportunity to travel to NYC and other great cities in the USA doing different Fashion shows with top fashion designers. I then participated in the first Miss Zim USA in 2004 which was held in Atlanta GA. I also opened both Miss Zim USA 2004 and 2005 Shows by singing the Zimbabwe National Anthem."

Talking to Sandy, one cannot help recalling that old cliché about the sky and limits.
VISIT SANDY'S WEBSITE: http://www.sandyministries.com/
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