By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
He is a gospel minister, a songwriter, a philanthropist, and a structured finance professional. And now, Everton Mlalazi can add another accolade to his growing list of achievements: nominee for the Africa Global Music Impact Award at the prestigious Clima Africa Awards 10th edition.
The ceremony is set for Friday, October 9, 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria — Africa’s entertainment capital — where Mlalazi will stand among the continent’s most influential musical forces.
The ClIMA Africa 2025 honors your favourite individuals who contribute to God’s Kingdom as writers, musicians, filmmakers, philanthropists and more.
But the Zimbabwean’s journey to Lagos is no ordinary showbiz fairy tale. It is a story of hymns sung through hardship, faith forged in financial ruin, and a man who refused to choose between a career in corporate finance and a calling to minister through music.
Born in Harare and raised in both the dusty streets of Nyamandhlovu, Bulawayo, and the bustling suburb of Glen Norah, Mlalazi’s earliest memories are of family devotion. In a devout Seventh-day Adventist home, his father led morning and evening hymns — planting seeds that would take decades to fully blossom.
Then came the storm.
During his high school years, Mlalazi’s father lost his job following an accident. Tuition fees became a luxury the family could not afford. But even as financial walls closed in, the young Everton turned to music — not as an escape, but as a refuge.
“I frequently turned to music to find comfort,” he has said of those dark days.
And comfort became calling.
While still a university student, Mlalazi won music awards in 2003 and sang in various church ensembles. But it was not until 2014 that his public music ministry formally began with the founding of The Vine Music Ministry.
The vocal ensemble would go on to record successful albums and headline regional tours, establishing Mlalazi as a serious force in Zimbabwean gospel.
Then came 2020 — and a pandemic that shut down the world.
While others stood still, Mlalazi soared. He launched his solo career with the Virtual Hymns series, capturing regional attention from living rooms and lockdowns. His debut single, Uyingcwele, became an anthem. And by late 2021, his debut solo album, In The Presence I, had dropped to critical acclaim.
But what truly sets Mlalazi apart is his refusal to be boxed in.
By day, he navigates the high-pressure world of structured finance. By night — and weekends, and any spare moment — he ministers in top gospel events across the globe. His recent project, Celestial Chorus Soiree, features artists from all continents of the world, a testament to his growing international reach.
Now, Lagos awaits.
The Clima Africa Awards, now in its 10th edition, is one of the continent’s most respected platforms for recognising musical excellence and impact. To be nominated for the Africa Global Music Impact Award is to be acknowledged not just for talent, but for transformation — for music that crosses borders, heals wounds, and lifts spirits.
For Mlalazi, the nomination is more than personal validation. It is a victory for every boy or girl from Glen Norah or Nyamandhlovu who has ever been told that dreams have price tags.
“We celebrate you,” the citation reads. And on October 9, if the award comes home, Zimbabwe will have one more reason to sing.
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