Stella Chiweshe – Zimbabwe’s Mbira Queen, Rebel Music Star and Pioneer TC_Africa: Zimbabwe
Analysis – Stella Rambisai Chiweshe, affectionately known in Zimbabwe as “the queen of mbira” or “Ambuya (grandmother) Chiweshe”, passed away on 20 January 2023.(the war of liberation against the white minority Rhodesian regime).The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said in a statement released Monday, drivers should prioritise safety on the roads to save lives.The Lift up Africa campaign – an initiative that began in 2021 mainly localised in Zimbabwe – has been rolled out to all African countries in the hope of summoning divine intervention on problems bedeviling the continent.May girls routinely skip up to a week of school every month because they don’t have sanitary pads.
Female trailblazer Although she did not openly call herself a feminist, as a female mbira custodian and practitioner she was one.British music writer Dominic Valvona explains : Trumpeted in our modern virtue-labeling climate as a ‘feminist’, the outspoken star was certainly strong-willed, even a rebel.According to ZRP, the number of accidents for the same period was however a bit higher, between December 15 2021 and January 15 2022 at 2 741 previously compared to 2 723 reported this time.Making a name for herself overcoming the obstacles of tradition and a patriarchal-dominated society, her obstinacy soon garnered attention, not only in Zimbabwe but further afield.James 5 vs.Chiweshe fought for recognition as a talented artist and gave voice to Zimbabwean womanhood, in all its complexity.”The Zimbabwe Republic Police implores drivers to be always cautious on the roads and strive to set an appropriate conduct on safety standards to safeguard lives.By making her body visible and her voice heard, she defied musical and cultural rites deeply rooted in ancestral tradition.Less than a year later, her life is a far cry from how she and her family used to get by.
This defiance challenged the marginalisation of women which denies them autonomy and agency.” Motorists should not cross flooded rivers and bridges to curb drowning incidences,” said police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi in a statement.We will be praying for every region of Africa, North, East, West, Central, and Southern.Chachimurenga (It’s Time for Revolution) is probably her most famous song.This timeless song is a call to arms.Meanwhile, a total of 669 people were injured in road accidents recorded during the period in question.It refers to the liberation war against the Rhodesian regime and highlights the bloodshed and sacrifices made to liberate the country.10-14, which reminds us that God has a plan for us, a hope, and a future that we should pray for peace and prosperity.The song, like most of her songs, features a fusion of mbira and other traditional instruments like marimba, drums and hosho (rattles).One of Mavis’s children also receives assistance through the Zimbabwean government’s Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) social program, which covers school fees, examination fees and other levies to support orphaned and vulnerable children aged 4-19 years old, including learners with disabilities.
Inspiring musician Chiweshe inspired many young female mbira players, even though the mbira remains an instrument predominantly played by men.One of the notable musicians she inspired is the late, award-winning singer and mbira player Chiwoniso Maraire.Zimbabwe is expected to hold its general elections later this year with political observers predicting a bloodbath.Maraire emerged in the early 1990s and showed that the mbira could still evoke deeply spiritual emotions when combined with western musical instruments.Her songs resonated with people at all levels of society and offered messages of inspiration and hope as well as resistance.Chiweshe also inspired Hope Masike , affectionately known as the”princess of mbira”, the contemporary custodian of this mystical instrument.The pandemic had added to the layered vulnerability of girls living in poverty there, given gender dynamics and the disproportionate impact it had on women and girls.
Masike’s bold, urban fusion music shows that the mbira should not only be considered in its traditional role.She has coined the term”Gwenyambirakadzi” to describe female mbira players.Popularising the mbira among young people, Masike has helped debunk the myth that the mbira is an instrument associated with the occult.Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines.
