Chipo Muchengwa – She used her disability as her enabler

Chipo Muchengwa 

By Tapfuma Machakaire  13/2/2023

Talented Afro-Jazz musician Chipo Muchengwa was born with a rare disability which spurred her into cultivating her artistic talent at an early age.

She has no arms, has short limbs and yet she is now a force to reckon with in the music industry in Zimbabwe. In 2016 Chipo featured on the ZTV StarBright show as an upcoming musician with a promising future in the music industry. In 2021 she was honoured with the Arts Personality of the Year Award by the Norton town council. Chipo is so daring that she has mastered the art of playing the traditional Mbira instrument using her toes.

To play the Mbira, (Thumb Piano) the performer holds the resonator with his or her fingers placed underneath and uses the thumbs to pluck the keys. This makes the instrument one of the most sophisticated musical gadgets, but that did not deter Chipo from venturing into playing Mbira music. “I was taught to play the mbira instrument by a friend and I enjoy it a lot. The sound of the mbira serenades my soul taking me to another world,” says Chipo.

She also uses her toes to do household chores in dramatic fashion. She is able to thread a needle and stitch her clothes, she can cook, dress herself up and do her make-up.

Besides her music she hopes to travel around the world and share her motivational story which destroys the myth that disability is inability.

In a radio interview on the programme Centre Stage with Chamvary on Power FM Zimbabwe in 2016, Chipo said she realised that she was different from other kids when people would crowd around her.

“It was then that I came up with the idea of singing to create another attraction that people could identify me with rather than my disability.”

As a young girl she would sing in the church choir and at home “My mother would sometimes be irritated because I would always be singing and would at times tell me to keep quiet.”

Chipo was born Talent Muchengwa on April 9, 1992 before she adopted the stage name Chipo, which means gift. Her father deserted the family soon after the birth of the baby girl who was the second child in the family after the first born who was a boy.

“I have never known my father because he was never in the picture from the day I was born.”

Chipo lived with her mother in Chitungwiza and as she grew up she learnt that some neighbours used to advise her mother to dump her disabled baby. Sadly her mother passed on when Chipo was just eight years old.

“After my mum passed on, my aunt Ruth Muchengwa who stays in Norton took care of me and still does to this day. She is the mother l have known and l am grateful for her because she never treated me any differently from her children. I still think of my mom though,” wrote Chipo on social media.

Chipo says her physical condition and the dire financial situation that her aunt faced created challenges for her upbringing. She went to Jairos Jiri centre for her primary education.

After completing grade seven she could not proceed with her education and was stuck at home for eight years. Chipo failed to enrol at Danhiko Training Centre in Harare as there was a condition for her to be accompanied by a maid.

“This complicated the situation because my aunt could not afford to hire a maid. My hopes were dashed.” It was at that stage that she started attending workshops for people with disabilities.

Chipo eventually secured a scholarship from a local non-Governmental organisation, Capernaum Trust, to study Information Technology at Danhiko Training centre. She faced some challenges and failed to complete the course.She moved to Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre where she met Donald Ganyaupfu who was to become her manager. After watching Chipo’s performance during musical sessions at the centre Ganyaupfu encouraged Chipo to record her music.

“I recorded my first single titled Ndizvo Zvandiri which means this is who l am. This was to be followed by another hit track Moyo Wangu, My Heart. In an interview with My Africa Magazine, Chipo spoke about her creative process.

“My creative process is amazing because even when I am bathing, I just start singing then after that I write the lyrics and sometimes it’s the thoughts that counts when I think about what is happening in my life or other people’s lives.”

She also spoke about the production process of the popular song Ndezvemoyo which she did with Terry Gee, a Zimdancehall artiste living with a disability.

“We were called by Makumbe Productions and Terry was informed to call me.We then wrote the song and recorded it. The video was done by Studio Art Pictures TV. I have never had a song that is loved more like this and I am happy because we have lots of views on the video on YouTube.”

The collaboration was the first between the two artistes and the rich lyrical content resonated with the duo’s love life in real life.

“What motivated us to collaborate was that people do not believe people with disabilities have feelings or that they want to be loved. That is why we decided to collaborate on a love track,” said Terry Gee.

Commenting on the production Ganyaupfu, Chipo’s manager described Chipo as a hard worker and goal getter.

“She is not only talented but is a hard worker and goal-getter. If she sets her eyes on a prize she goes for it and we are only there to support her because we believe in her,” said Ganyaupfu.

Chipo has also recorded with Monolio Mono Mukundu Studios, Kabon Productions, among other local studios. Local artiste who inspire her include Ammara Brown, Jah Prayzah, and Selmor Mtukudzi.

Chipo grew up using the ordinary manual wheelchair which was inappropriate for her condition as she does not have arms. In March 2022 her dream of owning an electronic wheelchair was fulfilled when the National Building Society (NBS) presented one to her. Presenting the mobility device, NBS head of marketing Mildret Kujinga described Chipo as a game-changer.

“We see her as a game-changer who has defied all odds shattering the glass ceiling in a male-dominated space and a role model to many who have embraced who she is.

“It’s our little token to her that we believe will aid her as she embarks on her beautiful journey as a musician,”said Kujinga.

Chipo has a daughter named Ribbon Matipaishe born on April 24, 2020.

“Among the many things l am grateful for is the birth of my daughter in 2020. The pregnancy had no major complications apart from gestational high blood pressure which got me admitted into hospital quite a few times.”

She says she is glad that her daughter was born with no disability.

“Even though her father, Dancehall artiste Sniper Storm and l are not together, he is fully present and active in her life. My daughter also gives me the energy to get up in the morning and work. I want her to look up to me and at the same time inspire her to be the best version of herself. She has to learn that although l may be disabled l can do a lot of things myself with minimal assistance,” says Chipo.

She says she has written a song for Ribbon which is still to be recorded.

Chipo’s version of Steve Makoni’s song Handiende was part of the Mono Mukundi compilation titled Anatha Brick which features various musicians who include Mbeu, and Jane Doka, Dereck Mpofu and Patience Musa.

Chipo says as she moves around people tend to stare at her and she used to feel uncomfortable.

“But now, because of my music, l have chosen to take advantage of the attention in order to put my music out there to gain traction in the industry.”