A Befitting Tribute for Chiwoniso Maraire

The Chiwoniso Maraire Tribute will go down in the history of the arts in Zimbabwe as how artists and the country at large should honour s/heroes in whichever field they hugely impact.  "Let's honour each other now before it's too late," Hope Masike the hostess repeatedly said through out the night.

Over three hundred people many of them artists got together at the Book Cafe in Harare last night to remember the life of the late Chiwoniso Maraire.  Aldo dell'Ariccia, the EU Ambassador spoke of how Chiwoniso even though gone will remain immortal through the power of her music.

 

EU Ambassador, Aldo dell'Ariccia: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Opening the show was Gary Tight followed by a host of other artists such as Bob Nyabinde, Tariro NeGitare with Edith WeUtonga & Fatima Katiji, Kelly Rusike & Jazz Invitation with Pablo Nakappa, Josh Meck, Junior Bantan, Hope Masike, Victor Kunonga, Ba Shupi, Chikwata 263, Roki, Clive 'Mono' Mkundu, Ticha Muzavazi, Alexio Kawara, Bob Nyabinde and Chirikure Chirikure whose condolence message was played from here Chirikure Chirikure Pays tribute to Chiwoniso Maraire.

 

Bob Nyabinde supported by Hope Masike, Vee Mukarati, Tariro neGitare: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

The memorable and emotional moment was when Chiwoniso's daughthers Chengeto and Chiedza accompanied by step daughter Ammara took to the stage backed by Vibe Culture the backing band for their late mother with the help of Mono Mukundu. Chiedza was almost overcome by tears as they sang 'Go Well Mamma', but soon the girls had the crowd jumping as they sang Nhemamusasa, Ancient Voices and a couple of their mother's songs.

Ammara, Chiedza & Chengeto Brown with Vibe Culture: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Chiedza, Ammara & Chengeto Brown with Vibe Culture: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

 

Born in 1976 in Olympia, Washington, where her father had moved his family, Chiwoniso spent the first seven years of her life on the US. When she moved back to Zimbabwe she attended Mutare Girls' High School and took evening classes at the University of Zimbabwe, where her father was teaching.

 

In the early 1990s, when she was 15, she formed part of Afro-fusion hip-hop trio A Peace of Ebony, which "was perhaps the first group to fuse mbira with contemporary beats". In 1996, she joined The Storm, a band led by guitarist Andy Brown (who later became her husband): "The Storm became one of Zimbabwe’s biggest bands, touring the world and winning accolades. Maraire’s firm voice and Brown’s plucky guitar made a beautiful combination."

 

Chiwoniso fronted her acoustic group Chiwoniso & Vibe Culture for several years. From 2001 to 2004, she was also a core member of the multinational all-women band Women's Voice, whose original members hailed from Norway, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, America, Israel and Algeria.  Chiwoniso also starred in film, having worked on the soundtracks for movies and documentaries by an array of Zimbabwean writers and film producers in the last ten years.

 

Maraire died on 24 July 2013 at South Medical Hospital in Chitungwiza.   According to her manager Cosmas Zamangwe, she had been admitted to hospital 10 days earlier suffering from chest pains. The cause of death was the result of suspected pneumonia, just a year after the death of her ex-husband, Andy Brown, also a prominent musician. The couple leave two daughters, Chengeto and Chiedza.  She was buried at her rural home in Chakohwa village in Mutambara.

 

FLAME will remember Chiwoniso for her selflessness and fight for the better treatment especially of women artists.  We would also like to thank friends to Chiwoniso: Alice Knuth, Chido Musasiwa, Tomas Brickhill.  Many more thanks to the EU, Culture Fund of Zimbabwe, Trust Africa for their contributions and all the artists who made this such a memorable tribute.

By Batsirai E Chigama
Gender Project Officer
For Pamberi Trust