News / Local
Ma Eli, Maviri stock rises after death
12 Aug 2023 at 02:45hrs | Views
RESEARCH has shown that most artistes found fame after death and that during their lifetime, they would have no commercial success and very little recognition.
Despite the fact that most artistes entered into the industry with rock-star dreams of fame, fortune, celebrity, the envy of their peers, and the adoration of their fans they hardly achieve the dream of fame.
Only a handful of the luckiest and most talented do.
Then there's another much more unfortunate category of artistes, whose dreams of celebrity, influence, and riches are fully realised, but not until after they die. Two late members of Insimbi ZeZhwane, the band's co-owner Elvis "Ma Eli" Mathe and drummer Thembinkosi "Maviri" Mpofu who died in a road accident on Saturday apparently falls under that unfortunate category of artistes who found fame after death.
The accident, which claimed their lives, occurred along the Victoria-Falls Highway when their Toyota Hilux veered off the road following a tyre burst, leading the vehicle to hit a tree near Fatima High School turn-off.
They were travelling from Bulawayo from Binga enroute to Mashonaland Central where they were billed to perform at a gala later that day. News about the passing on of Ma Eli and Maviri began surfacing on social media with music organisations, artistes and fans sending their prodigious outpouring of grief and messages of condolences as well as expressing their veritable avalanche of accolades.
The outpouring of grief and messages of condolences are an indication that the two talented artistes' works achieved wider notice and recognition posthumously.
Despite Ma Eli being revered for his music compositions prowess which saw him creating a new sound for rhumba and which brought the band to fame, making them the most sought after rhumba band in the Matabeleland region, his fame seems to have begun to exceed only after his death.
He also reportedly played both the lead and rhythm guitars when the band recorded.
Maviri was also a drummer of note.
It is important to note that although money does count, the reward for any artiste for his or her work is appreciation and acknowledgement.
However, judging from the outpouring of grief and messages of condolences
Ma Eli and Maviri seem to have gained both only after their demise.
On 21 April this year I was privileged to be part of the bumper crowd that thronged Palace Hotel in Bulawayo where the band thrilled fans who thronged the popular joint and proved beyond doubt that they were one of the best rhumba bands in the country.
Acknowledging their profound impact on society and culture Kingdom Blue Funerals Services chief executive officer (CEO) Brilliant Ncube who pledged to offer free funeral services for the two Insimbi Zezhwane band members, said they were committed to ensuring that Mathe and Mpofu receive a royal and dignified send-off that befits their extraordinary contributions to the arts industry in Zimbabwe. He said Mathe and Mpofu were not just remarkable musicians but they were also beacons of hope for the Matabeleland arts community.
"We understand the immense burden they now bear, and in light of this tragic event, we have pledged to provide full funeral services for both Insimbi ZeZhwane band members.
"We are committed to ensuring that they receive a royal and dignified send-off that befits their extraordinary contributions to the arts.
"Their immense talent and dedication were evident in their promising careers, leaving an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing them and experiencing their music," said Ncube amid indications that they will be buried on Saturday.
A big sendoff is also being organised for the two late band members with the Government also committing to assist with funeral expenses as well as medical costs for the band's members who are hospitalised.
Insimbi ZeZhwane band started recording in 2015 and to date, boasts a total of seven albums which include Iseqa Mgwaqo, Inhlanzi Encane, Sizalendaba, Dikidiki, Inganekwane, Impande Yeminyela and Imbemba.
This isn't the first time that artistes toiled away, unrecognised for years, only to find fame and fortune a short time after their death.
There are a number of them who made a profound impact on society as well as culture a short time after their death.
If there is a penchant people have skillfully perfected, it is the art of celebrating an artiste once he or she is dead.
It is time we began to honour our artistes while they are still alive than to wait and to express a veritable avalanche of accolades when they die.
RIP Ma Eli and Maviri.
Despite the fact that most artistes entered into the industry with rock-star dreams of fame, fortune, celebrity, the envy of their peers, and the adoration of their fans they hardly achieve the dream of fame.
Only a handful of the luckiest and most talented do.
Then there's another much more unfortunate category of artistes, whose dreams of celebrity, influence, and riches are fully realised, but not until after they die. Two late members of Insimbi ZeZhwane, the band's co-owner Elvis "Ma Eli" Mathe and drummer Thembinkosi "Maviri" Mpofu who died in a road accident on Saturday apparently falls under that unfortunate category of artistes who found fame after death.
The accident, which claimed their lives, occurred along the Victoria-Falls Highway when their Toyota Hilux veered off the road following a tyre burst, leading the vehicle to hit a tree near Fatima High School turn-off.
They were travelling from Bulawayo from Binga enroute to Mashonaland Central where they were billed to perform at a gala later that day. News about the passing on of Ma Eli and Maviri began surfacing on social media with music organisations, artistes and fans sending their prodigious outpouring of grief and messages of condolences as well as expressing their veritable avalanche of accolades.
The outpouring of grief and messages of condolences are an indication that the two talented artistes' works achieved wider notice and recognition posthumously.
Despite Ma Eli being revered for his music compositions prowess which saw him creating a new sound for rhumba and which brought the band to fame, making them the most sought after rhumba band in the Matabeleland region, his fame seems to have begun to exceed only after his death.
He also reportedly played both the lead and rhythm guitars when the band recorded.
Maviri was also a drummer of note.
It is important to note that although money does count, the reward for any artiste for his or her work is appreciation and acknowledgement.
However, judging from the outpouring of grief and messages of condolences
Ma Eli and Maviri seem to have gained both only after their demise.
On 21 April this year I was privileged to be part of the bumper crowd that thronged Palace Hotel in Bulawayo where the band thrilled fans who thronged the popular joint and proved beyond doubt that they were one of the best rhumba bands in the country.
Acknowledging their profound impact on society and culture Kingdom Blue Funerals Services chief executive officer (CEO) Brilliant Ncube who pledged to offer free funeral services for the two Insimbi Zezhwane band members, said they were committed to ensuring that Mathe and Mpofu receive a royal and dignified send-off that befits their extraordinary contributions to the arts industry in Zimbabwe. He said Mathe and Mpofu were not just remarkable musicians but they were also beacons of hope for the Matabeleland arts community.
"We understand the immense burden they now bear, and in light of this tragic event, we have pledged to provide full funeral services for both Insimbi ZeZhwane band members.
"We are committed to ensuring that they receive a royal and dignified send-off that befits their extraordinary contributions to the arts.
"Their immense talent and dedication were evident in their promising careers, leaving an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing them and experiencing their music," said Ncube amid indications that they will be buried on Saturday.
A big sendoff is also being organised for the two late band members with the Government also committing to assist with funeral expenses as well as medical costs for the band's members who are hospitalised.
Insimbi ZeZhwane band started recording in 2015 and to date, boasts a total of seven albums which include Iseqa Mgwaqo, Inhlanzi Encane, Sizalendaba, Dikidiki, Inganekwane, Impande Yeminyela and Imbemba.
This isn't the first time that artistes toiled away, unrecognised for years, only to find fame and fortune a short time after their death.
There are a number of them who made a profound impact on society as well as culture a short time after their death.
If there is a penchant people have skillfully perfected, it is the art of celebrating an artiste once he or she is dead.
It is time we began to honour our artistes while they are still alive than to wait and to express a veritable avalanche of accolades when they die.
RIP Ma Eli and Maviri.
Source - B-Metro
