Mbira spices up gathering of lovebirds

THERE is a beautiful phenomenon happening in Harare’s urban pop culture.

Last Friday, the Alliance Francaise Harare was packed to the rafters with beautiful young people, well-scrubbed and smelling exquisitely expensive.

The theme was love and the auditorium was truly overflowing with it. Everyone smiled and was warm to each other.

Fronted and curated by the beautiful and vivacious Tatenda Chioniso Rushwaya who is the creative director for the mbira extravaganza, the night was ably compèred by Rumbidzai Chikanza, also known as Bouncy Rue, who spiced the evening with classy humour that warmed the heart and was not at all overbearing and competing with the talent.

Since December 2020, the mbira was placed on the UNESCO list of intangible heritage in accordance with the 2003 Convention on the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This is a big deal. Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Kirsty Coventry said, “We continue to value the crafting and playing of Mbira as well as enjoying the beautiful music that Mbira provides. Music through instruments such as mbira unites communities, creates peace, spiritual well-being and reminds us of our strong history and heritage as story tellers.”

Tatenda Chioniso Rushwaya and her friends created Mbira Urban which is “a social enterprise dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Zimbabwean mbira music.

“Introducing mbira to young people ensures its legacy and evolution as an instrument with a promising future,” said Rushwaya

That is how the night became a celebration of love through the mbira ensemble of Mazwi Band, Tendex, Nasibo and Tafadzwa Matiure.

Mazwi Band among other hits performed the traditional, “Yave Nyama Yekugocha.”