Entertainment / Music
Chiwoniso tribute song released - Audio
05 Sep 2013 at 00:43hrs | Views
Netherlands-based Rina Mushonga has released a song in honour of late mbira queen Chiwoniso Mararire. Rina did the tribute song for Chiwoniso, who died on July 24, at the age of 37, after being invited by a Dutch radio station.
"I was asked to do a tribute interview/performance for RNW (Dutch world service radio) in Amsterdam, said the upcoming musician.
"They wanted to broadcast a tribute to Chiwoniso and asked if I would like to write a small song as a tribute to her.
I had about a day to come up with something before the recording, but I was so moved by Chiwoniso's life and the inspiration she was for so many, so the song came quite easily," she said.
Rina, who was close to the late mbira star, says Chiwoniso deserves the honour because she was not only a legendary musician but a great champion for human rights.
"Chiwoniso and I were old friends. I met her when I first started performing at the Book Café in Harare when I was about 17 or 18. We became friends through music really.
"I think about her a lot and how unique and special she is and the great impact she had on everyone who met her. I was shocked to hear of her passing and deeply saddened of course, she was so vibrant and such a beautiful spirit."
"I really felt that we had lost a great force in the Zimbabwean music industry, someone who not only represented Zimbabwe musically but brought a new sound to the scene and broke through musical boundaries," she added.
Chiwoniso's sudden death shocked Zimbabwe's music community since there were no prior reports that she had been unwell.
The mbira star's death was attributed to pneumonia or some type of lung infection.
"I was asked to do a tribute interview/performance for RNW (Dutch world service radio) in Amsterdam, said the upcoming musician.
"They wanted to broadcast a tribute to Chiwoniso and asked if I would like to write a small song as a tribute to her.
I had about a day to come up with something before the recording, but I was so moved by Chiwoniso's life and the inspiration she was for so many, so the song came quite easily," she said.
Rina, who was close to the late mbira star, says Chiwoniso deserves the honour because she was not only a legendary musician but a great champion for human rights.
"Chiwoniso and I were old friends. I met her when I first started performing at the Book Café in Harare when I was about 17 or 18. We became friends through music really.
"I think about her a lot and how unique and special she is and the great impact she had on everyone who met her. I was shocked to hear of her passing and deeply saddened of course, she was so vibrant and such a beautiful spirit."
"I really felt that we had lost a great force in the Zimbabwean music industry, someone who not only represented Zimbabwe musically but brought a new sound to the scene and broke through musical boundaries," she added.
Chiwoniso's sudden death shocked Zimbabwe's music community since there were no prior reports that she had been unwell.
The mbira star's death was attributed to pneumonia or some type of lung infection.
Source - daily news
