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

Tribute to Chiwoniso Maraire

A bright star went out over Harare skies last Wednesday with the death of Zimbabwe’s young mbira legend Chiwoniso Maraire - musician, singer, songwriter, mother, daughter, sister of so many.  The news rocked the arts community of Zimbabwe who gathered at her home. They played music and wept with the family, they prayed for the children. A media frenzy ensued, overflowing with messages from all over the world of pain and loss, of memories of music and fun, of great songs that were written and others not yet written. 

 

This Thursday 1 August at The Book Café from 7pm, some of Zimbabwe’s most prominent artists will be uniting to remember and celebrate the life of their sister in a colourful musical tribute at the popular performing arts venue, which she had also considered her ‘home’.  All proceeds of the show will go to her family.  Cover charge is $5 early /$10 later.

 

While coordination of the huge event is still ongoing, the lineup is likely to include Hope Masike, Pablo Nakappa, Chikwata.263, Ba Shupi, Josh Meck & Chikwata, Kelly Rusike & Jazz Invitation, Comrade Fatso & Chabvondoka, Outspoken & The Essence, Eyarah Mathazia, House of Stone, and more.

 

The late Chiwoniso Maraire performing at the re-opening of the Book Café, 8 March 2012

Chiwoniso became part of the Pamberi Trust and Book Café family years ago at the start of her career, when she performed and grew at the Monday Open Mic nights in the Fife Avenue venue, went on to make Tuesday nights a memorable experience for several years, and even after achieving international acclaim, performed regularly at Book Café right up to her last performance on Friday 5 July with mbira heavyweights Nyamasvisva and Mawungira Enharira.

Over the years Chiwoniso has given much of herself to the artistic community in Zimbabwe, and besides music performances she participated in many discussions including the memorable June discussion with Hope Masike and Stella Chiweshe in ‘Mbiravolution’ by Hector Mugani; facilitated workshops, represented Zimbabwe at festivals around the world, entered into vivid music collaborations, and other artistic activities that have touched so many artists. 



Chiwoniso Maraire: We will remember your selflessness, here Chiwoniso performing at a fundraiser, Book Café, June 2013

At the time of her death messages have been posted from musicians she has performed with from all over the world, from the United States to Japan and South Africa to Europe.

Paul Brickhill, Director of Book Café and Pamberi Trust said, “We pay tribute to the greatest musician of her generation, our daughter and sister Chiwoniso.  She was part of us. She is remembered with love, by all at Pamberi Trust and Book Café”.

ENDS