Debut CD by Zim’s youngest mbira recording artist

LAUNCH of ‘DESTINY’

 

On Friday 30 May, the youngest mbira recording artist in Zimbabwe, the 13-year-old TENDAI MAVENGENI, launches her debut album ‘DESTINY’ at Harare’s arts hub, the Book Café. 
 

The six-track ‘traditional jazz’ album is a result of passion and discipline, along with good guidance and mentoring of the teenage girl by several local musicians and the full and unwavering support of her parents. 

 

Her music is influenced by a broad spectrum of traditional mbira and other music styles she has encountered in her young life, and lyrics include social concerns about the plight of children and how moral decay impacts negatively on children, especially girl children.   The album comprises Tununurei, Spirit of My Destiny, Wakaronga, Pfuma, Africa, and a bonus instrumental track.

 

Background

Born in December 2000 in Harare, Tendai is a form one student with a passion for music - particularly traditional music - which she grew up listening to.  She started performing at pre-school; at primary school her passion led her to start playing Mbira (Nhare) at the very young age of 9, taught and mentored by respected mbira players Trymore “Guchi” Jombo and Brezhnev Guveya.  She went on to she win a number of awards and medals at primary school level.

 

Today Tendai is one of the finest young female Nhare Mbira players in the country.  Tendai draws her inspiration from famous Zimbabwean women mbira players Ambuya Stella Chiweshe and the late Chiwoniso Maraire, and singers like Claire Nyakujara, to mention a few. 

 

Since 2012 Tendai has been a regular participant of Pamberi Trust’s Sistaz Open Mic platform, which has significantly helped her by offering workshops and stage performances which are of paramount importance in shaping her career. 

 

She said, “The first time I played for the public at Sistaz Open Mic, I felt great, although nervous, but when I got into the music I didn’t feel nervous.  Since then I participated quite often, my nerves went away as I was getting used to stage performance.  I got a lot of encouragement by other sisters to keep working hard, and I’ve worked for about a year with a backing band to get to this recording stage, and I’m so glad the day I had worked hard for has finally come”.
 

Along with appearances at Book Café, Tendai has performed at the 2012 Protest Arts Festival, UZ World Theatre Day, Women Arts Festival, Zimpapers (Kwayedza) Poetry Awards, Zimbabwe International Book Fair, Mbira Schools Festival, and the Mbare Boys Scouts Festival.

 
Singer/songwriter Clare Nyakujara, who has been one of her mentors said “Tendai is doing great.  She still has a lot to learn and go through, in terms of music, so this album launch is the start not the end.  We still have a long walk.  But she has been so easy to work with.  Her lyrical content, brain, capacity of thinking is greater than her age, you wouldn’t think it’s a 13-year old.  I encourage her to keep looking forward, to grow, and believe in herself.  We’ll help her to face any hiccups, but she should not be distracted, just look straight ahead to the goal.”

Tendai’s first goal was to make songs of her own then to grow and record.  Her next goal is to grow in the music industry in Zimbabwe and travel around the world.  She said “I think I’ve got something to share, and want my music to be listened to worldwide.” 

On her Facebook page artists from Zimbabwe and different parts of the world have made contact and offered a lot of encouragement. 

 Family support is everything for an artist of any age, and the supportive father who accompanies Tendai to every show, Boniface Mavengeni identified from an early age that Tendai was ‘intelligent and very musical’.  He was encouraged by her teacher’s comments after her first lesson.  “He said even he once ran away from mbira as a child because his fingers were sore.  He was very moved by Tendai asking for a second lesson.” 

 

Of possible reservations about his daughter entering the music industry, Boniface said “Why should I stop such a good thing?  I have always admired Dorothy Masuka, Miriam Makeba and other local women artists, especially those who play instruments, who I feel have moved up a notch. In our family, many aunts play music in church, and grandfather Mavengeni was a mbira-player.  It’s encouraging to find it in our family in this generation.  I don’t see anything bad about girls going on stage, it is God-given, no one can take it away.  But where there is success they must learn to keep their cool.  I always instill in her the need for professionalism.”

Tendai is grateful for their support.  “He’s been with me since I started, up to now.  My mum also encourages me every day to keep working hard.  She’s happy that I’ve finished recording.  I know that I’m lucky and I’m thankful.”

 

For other girls who aspire to play music, Tendai says “I encourage other girls to keep working hard, ‘cos success comes after working hard.  They should also use platforms like Sistaz Open Mic.  It also depends on behaviour, if you misbehave, there is no support.  If they have issues with their parents, I encourage them to let their parents see they have great talent, until they say yes!”

 

Pamberi Trust’s gender programme FLAME (Female Literary, Arts & Music Enterprise) stages and manages the Sistaz Open Mic programme, which has contributed so much to Tendai’s growth.  Project officer Batsirai Chigama, said “We have always acknowledged the importance of  parental  support especially to the girl child not only in their academics but whatever it is they aspire for in life.  It is no doubt that Tendai has come this far, this fast because of the guidance and support she has enjoyed from her family and as the F.L.A.M.E Project we applaud them.  We witnessed a tremendous improvement in execution on stage since Tendai started coming to Sistaz Open Mic two years ago and this album is the beginning of greater things to come from this determined young lady.”

CONTACT:

Boniface Mavengeni (0772 319 688)