Mbuya Stella Chiweshe, a mbira virtuoso who was widely recognized and honored, passed away unexpectedly. This morning, the seasoned musician and vocalist of “Chave Chimurenga” left the world. She was internationally known for her singing and playing of the mbira dzavadzimu, a traditional instrument in Zimbabwe. When the news of her passing spread, her fans were shocked and keen to learn the cause of her passing. Let’s look at what happened to her and Mbuya Stella Chiweshe cause of death in this article.
What happened to Mbuya Stella Chiweshe?
Veteran mbira musician Mbuya Stella Chiweshe passed away. One official statement confirms her death news the message reads,
Mbuya Stella Chiweshe Dies. Mbuya Stella Chiweshe, a Grammy-winning Mbira musician, has passed away. Relatives have revealed that she passed away this morning at her Kuwadzana home in Harare.
On July 8, 1946, Stella Rambisai Nekati Chiweshe was born in Zimbabwe’s Mujumi Village, in the Mhondoro region. She was well-known throughout the world for her singing and mbira dzavadzimu playing, a Zimbabwean folk instrument.
From 1966 through 1969, when even fewer women played the instrument, she studied the mbira. Mbuya Stella Chiweshe took part in the WOMAD festival and gave multiple performances in Germany (1994 in the United States, 1995 in Australia, and 2006 in Spain).
She made a tour of England in 2004 with her daughter. She wasn’t feeling well, and Rector Kandemiviri, a close relative, verified the death.
Mbuya Stella Chiweshe cause of death
Veteran Mbira artist Mbuya Stella Chiweshe, often known by her stage name Mbuya Stella, has passed away. Relatives have verified that she passed away this morning at her Kuwadzana residence.
A close relative, Rector Kandemiviri confirmed the death, “She wasn’t feeling much well of late, coupled with age. The last time she came kumusha she was saying her days are almost up and as such, she needed to settle back home.”
In Mujumi Village, Mhondoro, Stella Rambisai Nekati Chiweshe was born on July 8th, 1946. She was wed to German national Peter Reich. She was well-known throughout the world for her singing and mbira dzavadzimu playing, a Zimbabwean folk instrument.
From 1966 through 1969, when even fewer women played the instrument, she studied the mbira.
As we receive the sad news of the passing of mbuya Stella Chiweshe, we salute her for determination to record music at a time when all odds were against female artists. pic.twitter.com/rSXUSxkivI
— Charles Charamba (@CharambaPastor) January 20, 2023
Who was Mbuya Stella Chiweshe?
A Zimbabwean musician named Stella Chiweshe (also known as Stella Rambisai Chiweshe, Stella Rambisai Chiweshe Nekati, or Stella Nekati Chiweshe) was born on July 8, 1946, in Mujumi Village, Mhondoro, Zimbabwe, and passed away on January 20, 2023.
She was well-known throughout the world for her singing and mbira dzavadzimu playing, which is a Zimbabwean Shona custom. She was one of the few female performers of the instrument, which she studied between 1966 and 1969, a period in which even fewer women played it.
Stella Chiweshe receiving the Lifetime Achievement award at The National Arts Merit Awards, March 2020 (Credit- Getty)
Chiweshe frequently performs in Germany and also takes part in the WOMAD festival (1994 in the United States, 1995 in Australia, and 2006 in Spain). She made a tour of England in 2004 with her daughter.
She did her 1st single Kasahwa and went gold in 1975. In 1979 she started her band the Earthquake after the record company had refused to record Mbira. 2020 @namaszim bestowed her with a lifetime achievement award.
Timeline of Stella Chiweshe’s career
| 1970-1973 Before independence in 1974, she performed illegal spiritual rites while running the risk of being imprisoned by the colonial authorities. Her compositions were originally recorded by Teal Record Company, and her first song, Kasahwa, went gold. |
| 1979 She started her band the Earthquake after the record company had refused to record Mbira. |
| 1981 – 1985 She joined the National Dance Company of Zimbabwe as a dancer, actor, and Mbira soloist. She also, performed in Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Australia, Germany, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, China, Korea, and India. She achieved fame in a movie in which she portrayed Ambuya Nehanda, a national hero of Zimbabwe who was assassinated in 1896 by the colonial administration. |
| 1987 Spectacular performance at the Hackney Empire in London and the Beat Apartheid Road Festival in Germany with two members of the English band the 3 Mustaphas 3 were part of the recording and distribution of “Ambuya?” by Piranha Records of Germany. |
| 1989 She published the television documentary “Rambisai – Music of the Ancestors” for “Ndizvozvo,” and she founded the Mother Earth women’s group in Zimbabwe. Led her first workshop with 100 women in Cardiff/South Wales as a teacher, and a European tour with the Earthquake Band the same year… |
| 1990 “Chisi” was published by Piranha Records for publication in Europe and Japan, and “Ambuya?” was given its first American release. Her performance at the Heimatklänge-Festival in Berlin, Germany, ends up becoming the festival’s headliner. concerts in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. led the “Body in Soul” women’s workshop in Arhus, Denmark |
| 1998 Through more than 30 shows, Susana Baca (Peru) and Tish Hinojosa (New Mexico) co-headlined the “Global Divas” tour across the USA. European tour and numerous radio broadcast with the Trio in the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany.“Tapera” CD recording in Zimbabwe with Gramma Records. Project in collaboration with “Bhatagumbo,” a group of senior women (55-80 years of age). Stella developed, choreographed, directed, and starred in the theatre production “Chiedza” (light). performed alongside Bhatagumbo at the HIFA Festival in Harare. |
| 1999 Magdalena Aoteroa Festival in New Zealand, featuring solo performances and workshops in Paekakariki and Wellington. And Collaboration with the Oakland-based Dimensions Dance Theatre (USA). The Trio’s European tour includes performances in Budapest, the World Music Festival in Hungary, the Kalaka Festival in Slovenia, and concerts in Genova, Casale Monferato, Torino, and Bologna in Italy. concerts in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and Belgium. the “World Senior Theatre Festival” in Köln, Germany, with the Bhatagumbo group. The festival’s centerpiece was the piece she produced. |
| 2016 Playing the mbira for the Zimbabwean ancestors and constructing a traditional village in Chegutu Mashonaland West between January 1, 2016, and July 30, 2016. Germany, Berlin Klunkekranik. Danzig Festival in Poland. July performance in Finland Recording of Mbira tour in October at Salerno, Italy |
Condolences to Mbuya Stella Chiweshe:
| Chris Romario Musekiwa Very sad news indeed! Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family, relatives, and friends, may they find comfort in the Lord during this time of bereavement. RIP Zimbabwe Music legend Ambuya Stella Chiweshe makarwa kurwa kwakanaka. |
| Orlando Munashe Maphosa Rest in Eternal Peace Mbuya Chiweshe… Condolences to close family members, friends, colleagues, the Arts Industry, and the nation of Zimbabwe… You are Zimbabwe’s Heroine |
| Farai Gwatiwa This is sad news. May her soul rest in peace. We will always remember you with your powerful song ‘chave chimurenga’. |
| Tinashe Rudhumbu Just read some sad news that Mbuya Stella Chiweshe has died. A great loss of a cultural icon indeed. May her soul rest in peace. |
| Trudie Gotwe RaDolia Saw her at the airport in November she looked unwell. But one thing na gogo, always looking fly. She was dressed to the 9s. Vanga vakachena. RIP mbuya Stella |
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Lavanya (Senior Editor) is a full-time content writer with almost 5 years of experience and a part-time teacher. She joined Medico Topics on the Breaking News trainee scheme in 2022 and now works on MedicoTopics.com. As a lifelong learner, She is constantly curious about learning new things and passionate about sharing knowledge with people through her writing and teaching.