The Sunday News
Mbongeni Msimanga
THE untimely passing away of one of Zimbabwe’s most revered musicians, Chiwoniso Maraire robbed the country of a unique voice that will be hard if not almost impossible to replace.
With many musicians having paid respect to her unique talent and mbira performances that would get one up their feet, the songstress left an indelible mark not only in Zimbabwe’s music industry but in the careers of many artistes.
Zimbabwean Jazz artist Victor Kunonga is one such artiste who admitted that Chiwoniso gave him direction in the music industry and that the impact he has made so far could fittingly be credited to her timeless efforts and advice.
“I got a lot of advice from the late musician Chiwoniso Maraire. What I am doing now is because of her. Chiwoniso has always been a big inspiration to me and will remain one artiste that I will always respect,” said Kunonga.
With her music still being sought after by many, Kunonga said he was always inspired by the authentic mbira sound that Chiwoniso had as he believed she was a force to reckon on in the mbira music genre.
Kunonga said the help and advice he used to get from Chiwoniso had opened up doors for him that have taken him to places he never believed he would reach.
“Her music and advice has shaped my career and has opened up a lot of doors for me. She had an authentic Zimbabwean voice and that is the direction that my music has taken,” he said.
Although Kunonga may be viewed as a “late bloomer” in the music industry, releasing his first album at the age of 30, he has so far rubbed shoulders with internationally acclaimed musicians like Hugh Masekela, Oliver Mtukudzi Steve Dyer, Habib Coyete, Jabu Khanyile, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Judith Sephuma and Louis Mhlanga, to mention only a few.
The muso said they were working on a project Shai Shai that would be dedicated to Chiwoniso with Masekela being the executive producer.
Originally, Shai Shai is a brainchild of Hugh Masekela that was meant to give tribute to Dumisani Maraire, a Mbira Master and teacher, but it came to halt when Chiwoniso passed away.
Two years later after the passing away of Chiwoniso, the project was made a success by a quartet of Prudence Katomeni Mbofana, Benita Tarupiwa, Joyce Warikwanda and Rumbidzai Tavaziva so that the project did not die but bring Chiwoniso’s vision to life.
“I am working on a project at the moment with Hugh Masekela and its called Shai Shai. It is almost done. The project is mainly dedicated to the late Chiwoniso Maraire. The other project that I am doing is Mbira ensemble,” he said.
The muso said he had always had a passion for music, although he could not pursue his dream because he did not have music instruments, a prerequisite for him to qualify at the Academy of Music in Bulawayo.
Although he pursued other avenues during the early stages of his career Kunonga did not leave music as it was his dream that his voice be heard far and wide.
“I remember applying at the academy of music after high school and I could not qualify as I did not have any instruments. So I put the career on hold and pursued a career in advertising. I could not ask my parents to buy me an instrument, as I thought it would be a tall order for them,” he said.
