A DARK cloud hung over Zimbabwe yesterday following the death of popular mbira music queen, Stella Rambisai Chiweshe, popularly known as Mbuya Chiweshe.
The internationally-renowned mbira musician was born on
July 8, 1946, in Mujumi Village in Mhondoro.
She succumbed to cancer of the brain yesterday morning at
her Kuwadzana home in Harare. She was 77.
As condolence messages continued to pour in, some voices
across the arts spectrum such as Jenaguru Arts Centre founder and musician
Clive Malunga began lobbying for the late Chiweshe to be accorded national hero
status for her contribution to the arts industry.
Malunga described Chiweshe as an upholder of Zimbabwean
culture through her music and films.
“Mbuya Chiweshe was the Zimbabwe music ambassador and world
class artiste, who popularised mbira, marimba, hosho nengoma across the globe.
One of Jenaguru Music Festival founding members, Mbuya Chiweshe was a strong
pillar for women musicians in Zimbabwe, who represented women at most major
events for artists,” he said.
“In appreciation of her prowess in music, Mbuya Chiweshe
was crowned queen of mbira music at Gwanzura Stadium in Highfield, Harare, and
was honoured with a 21-carat gold star. She was also to be conferred with a
honorary degree in 2002 by the University of Zimbabwe through a Jenaguru Arts
Centre initiative. The queen of mbira music deserves the national hero status,
as she was a patriotic cadre of Zimbabwe.
May her soul rest in peace.”
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe executive director
Nicholas Moyo described the late songbird as Zimbabwe’s Queen of Mbira.
“Mbuya Stella Chiweshe was undoubtedly Zimbabwe’s Queen of
Mbira and one of the country’s foremost cultural exports. With her swooping
vocals on the mbira, she brought traditional Zimbabwean Shona music to the
international stage,” Moyo said.
Zimbabwe Music Rights Association executive director
Polisile Ncube-Chimhini said Chiweshe had left a big void in the music industry
that was hard to fill instantly.
“I am so sorry for the passing on of Mbuya Chiweshe. The
music fraternity has lost a giant, true patriot and a revolutionary musician
whose music inspired the black majority,” she said.
“I believe her music will, however, continue to inspire
generations to come. My heart is with the Chiweshe family and the whole arts
industry at this difficult time. May her soul rest in peace.”
National Gallery of Zimbabwe executive director Raphael
Chikukwa said: “This is a saddest start of the year 2023. We have been robbed
of the daughter of the soil and a singer par excellence as a nation. She was a
powerful voice that will remain with us and those across waters. May her soul rest
in peace.”
Renowned multi-instrumentalist and music producer, Clive
“Mono” Mukundu said: “It is sad that this January, we have lost yet another
international icon from Zimbabwe, the same month that we lost superstar Oliver
‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi. May her soul rest in peace.”
With a career spanning over 40 years, Chiweshe was a
recipient of various local and international awards, including the Billboard
Music Award (1993), the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) (2006), the Nama
Lifetime Achievement Award (2020), and the Nama Legends Awards (2021).
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