Afro-jazz musician Prince Kudakwashe Musarurwa of the
popular hit song “Runonzi Rudo”, which features songstress Pah Chihera, has
died of lung cancer, a family spokesperson confirmed.
Musarurwa died on Saturday night at Chinhoyi Hospital after
battling illness for almost a year.
He was 31. Mourners are gathered at his rural home in
Musarurwa Village, Murombedzi, in Zvimba.
In an interview with The Herald Arts, Musarurwa’s uncle,
Tafadzwa Matsate, who is the family spokesperson, said they were waiting for
other family members before announcing burial arrangements.
“It is sad that we have lost one of the rising musicians,
Prince,” he said. “As a family, we are deeply hurt. He died of lung cancer and
he had been in and out of hospital. Last year, he was seriously sick and was
hospitalised during the time of Dr Oliver Tuku’s death.
“We are waiting for the arrival of other relatives who are
on their way from South Africa. We do not have the burial arrangements yet, but
he is set to be buried here in the village. I will furnish you with further
details but since it happened over the weekend, he is likely to be buried on
Monday (today) or Tuesday.”
Pah Chihera, who was on her way from Beitbridge where she
had a show over the weekend, said she was deeply hurt by the passing on of
Prince, with whom she was related to.
“I am speechless,” she said. “I am coming from my
Beitbridge show. I am hurt, he was my close uncle and I do not know how to cope
with this situation.”
Musarurwa was the last born in a family of three and was
related to the late saxophonist Augustine Machina Musarurwa.
Augustine, together with his band, African Dance Band of
the Cold Storage Commission of Southern Rhodesia, recomposed the famous
“Skokiaan” song that became a global hit after it was re-recorded by celebrated
American Jazz star Louis Armstrong in 1954.
Together with Prince, the two did a rendition of the song
and renamed it ‘Chikokiana’.
Meanwhile, the local arts fraternity paid their tributes to
Prince on social media with some describing him as humble.
Zimdancehall musician Ricky Fire said: “Ko one yataifanira
kugadzira ndichaita nani iwewe waenda kusingadzokwe (We were supposed to do a
collabo before your death).”
“Rest in peace Prince.” Social media blogger Plot Mhako said the
nation was in shock after receiving the sad news.
Through his online platform ‘Earfround’, Mhako paid tribute
by revisiting some of Prince’s songs.
Our Perfect Zimbabwe host and songstress Adiona Maboreke
posted: “If you met him, you could never forget him.
“A heartwarming smile and the voice to complement it. You
have left a mark Sinyoro. R.I.P Prince.” Herald
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