GLOBAL MBIRA MUSIC ICON, MBUYA STELLA CHIWESHE DIES

The World Mourns Zimbabwe’s Cultural Ambassador

By Kamangeni Phiri    21/1/2023

Global mbira and marimba exponent, musician Mbuya Stella Chiweshe died yesterday morning at her home Kuwadzana Suburb, Harare in Zimbabwe.

The mbira artist who was 76 succumbed to cancer of the brain.

Her close relative Rector Kandemiviri, and daughter, Virgnia Mukwesha-Hetze confirmed the death to the media.

“She wasn’t feeling much well of late, coupled with age. The last time she came home she was saying her days are almost up and as such, she needed to settle back home,” said Kandemiviri.

Chiweshe relocated to Germany in the 1980s and it was during that time that her music started to blossom.

She leaves behind a rich discography of many mbira singles and nine albums.

The death of the iconic musician comes exactly after a year of the passing on of another Zimbabwean arts legend, Zex Manatsa who died aged 78 on January 20, 2022. He also succumbed to cancer.

Mbuya Stella Chiweshe was born Stella Rambisai Nekati Chiweshe on July 8, 1946 in Mujumi Village, Mhondoro, Zimbabwe. She gained internationally fame through her expertise in playing the mbira dzavadzimu, a traditional instrument in Zimbabwe, and singing traditional songs.

Stella Chiweshe mastered the art of playing the mbira instrument in the 1960s when it was not fashionable for women to be associated with the instrument, let alone become musicians.

She started playing the mbira instrument in 1966 when she was a mere 20-year old and by 1969 she had become an expert.

Mbuya Chiweshe, one of the country’s foremost cultural exports, performed numerous times in Germany and also participated in the WOMAD festival (1994 in the United States, 1995 in Australia, and 2006 in Spain).

In 2004, she toured England with her daughter.

Mbuya Chiweshe, Zimbabwe’s Queen of Mbira, was married to Peter Reich, a German national. Her first marriage was to the late football legend, Freddy Mukwesha.

National Arts Council of Zimbabwe executive director, Nicholas Moyo announced the legendary mbira player’s death yesterday.

He said: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of Nama legend, Mbuya Stella Rambisai Chiweshe, 76. Her daughter Virgnia Mukwesha-Hetze informed me that Mbuya Chiweshe died peacefully from cancer of the brain at home in Harare this (yesterday) morning.”

Armed with a sweet swooping voice and dexterity in playing the mbira instrument, Mbuya Chiweshe brought traditional Zimbabwean Shona music to the international stage.

Her illustrious career spanned over 50 years. Mbuya Chiweshe was a recipient of various local and international awards, including the Billboard Music Award (1993), Nama (2006), the Nama Lifetime Achievement Award (2020), and the Nama Legends Awards (2021).”

Joel Laviolette, a composer, educator, builder and connector based in Austin, Texas who once worked with the late Stella Chiweshe while touring the US, said the mbira community has just lost its Matriarch.

“Rest in peace Ambuya Stella Chiweshe,” he said writing on his Facebook wall.

He first met the late musician at the HIFA festival in Harare in 1998 after having listened to her music for years.

Laviolette  said her album Kumusha was one of his primary sources of finding the depth of mbira music inside his own body.

Years later, Laviolette  had the honor of playing guitar with Mbuya Stella Chiweshe while on a short tour of New Mexico and Colorado.

Jenaguru Arts Centre founder and musician, Clive Malunga said the songbird was a Zimbabwean cultural music ambassador and world class artiste.

He described Chiweshe as an upholder of Zimbabwean culture through her music and films. Malunga is lobbying for the late Chiweshe to be accorded national hero status for her contribution to the arts industry.

“Mbuya Chiweshe was the Zimbabwe music ambassador and world class artiste, who popularised mbira, marimba, hosho nengoma across the globe as she staged performances in countries like India, German, United Kingdom and Italy. The queen of mbira music deserves the national hero status, as she was a patriotic cadre of Zimbabwe,” he 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. May her soul rest in peace,” she said.

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.”

Mourners are gathered at Mukwesha Homestead in Chinyika, Goromonzi and burial arrangements will be announced in due course.