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the international music podium like a colossus, proudly flying the Zimbabwean flag high with her mellow mbira vibes. Now based in Germany Ambuya is in the country on holiday. Entertainment Editor Ruth Butaumocho recently had a telephone interview with the Mbira diva (SC) from Chegutu where she is.
RB: Can you tell us what you have been doing in Europe for the past few years?
SC: As you know, I am married to a German and I am now a permanent resident there. That is the reason why I don’t come here as much. But of course, I do travel to other countries holding shows and teaching people about Mbira.
During those live shows, I often perform with musicians from Zimbabwe, although here and there I engage session musicians. I am sure you know that playing with session musicians is not as good as playing with people whom you have grown accustomed to and more so those with a background of the genre that you play.
Most of the group members I started with have since passed on. These include my late drummer Tendai Zinyau, Naison Kabaya, Leonard Ngwenya, who played marimba soprano and my bassist called Shepherd. My daughter Virginia and myself are the only surviving members of the original band.
RB: Sometime in December you came to Zimbabwe and staged a homecoming show at Alliance Francaise, which I believe was not a big venue for someone like you. How was the response from your fans and are you planning on holding more shows in Zimbabwe and when?
SC: I came for my late mother’s ceremony in September (kurova guva) who passed away two years ago. When I was about to leave one promoter convinced me to have a show. The show was quite small, but I must say it was well attended and most of my fans really enjoyed themselves. After finishing what I am here for, I will probably hold a show, I don’t know when, but I will tell you.
RB: During the liberation struggle, you used your music to denounce colonialism in the pre-independent Zimbabwe. If you were to record today, what issues would you tackle in your music?
SC: I still play mbira in the same way that I used to during the liberation struggle. Mbira does not deal with issues. It was there before the dawn of time and it has remained as such. Kana jongwe rikakukuridza nhasi, mangwana rinenge rachinja makukuridziro aro here? (Does a cork change the way it cockerels any other day?). It is people who try and change mbira. Mbira is not for any other issues, but is for the spiritual mediums, in the same way Christians use the Bible.
RB: You have been based in Germany for so many years. Are you still holding live shows?
SC: I have been living in Germany for the past 21 years. Yes I still hold live shows and I also teach mbira. I have taught so many people including white people. It is one instrument loved by many and has touched so many souls over the years.
RB: Having lived abroad for so many years, what are some of the African practices that you still do in your home?
SC: I am still what I was before I even left for Germany. Back home in Germany, I prepare sadza and dried vegetables, nyevhe and rapoko meal everyday. Even when I am going back to Germany, I always make sure that I carry lost of traditional foods that we have here in Zimbabwe. Magariro emumba haachinjwe nekuti wave kunze. (Your values and lifestyle should not be determined by where you are at that particular time)
RB: I understand that your daughter Virgina Mukwesha is also a musician. Do you perform together and have you also released an album together?
SC: I taught her to play mbira when she was only 12. She was always with me. Yes we have done some recordings together. If you watch one of my videos, Chave Chimurenga, she is the one who would be standing right beside me. Whenever we get time, we hold shows together. She now lives in Berlin, and is also married to a German.
RB: I believe you are not only a musician, but you are multi-talented. In 1989, you starred in Godwin Mawuru’s film, “I Am The Future”. Since that time, have you taken part in any film? Given another chance, would you do it again?
SC: I have not taken part in any film, since Mawuru’s production, but of course given a chance to feature in any film, I would want to do it again. Acting is a profession that I enjoy so much.
RB: You inspired a lot of Zimbabwean women to take up mbira, but they have not been many, with the exception of a few in the likes of Beullah Dyoko and Chiwoniso Maraire. What are your words of encouragement to female musicians who would want to take up mbira but are afraid to do so?
SC: I encourage all women who want to become mbira players to do so gladly, because it is one genre that does not stand in any one’s way. In fact, playing mbira is as good as breathing, it does not stand in anyone’s way – it is natural. One can never say that she is too busy to play mbira and better still regard it as cumbersome. Mbira comforts troubled minds and helps to find solutions to unresolved questions and issues. Above all, it reduces stress and is quite soothing. Let me say it is the best friend one could ever find. It brings you joys and can be mesmerising, it helps to flash out negative thoughts by bringing out positive conceptions. Over the years, I have found out that it does help one to connect with the source of all beings – Musikavanhu.
RB: In the last two years, you have been in and out Zimbabwe on a number of occasions, Murikumboiteko nhai Ambuya?
SC: Let me apologise to my fans for not letting them know, what I have been doing all these years. I had segmented my life in three phases. I had dedicated the first phase for biras, where I have been going around playing for spirit mediums across Zimbabwe, while the second phase was meant for public performances.
The third phase I dedicated it to myself. I just needed time to rewind, reconnect with myself and also solve family problems. Pane zvakawanda zvemhuri zvinenge zvichiitika, asi unenge usina nguva yekuzvigarira pasi.
The reason why I came back is I want to hold performances for my ancestors in all the secret places in Zimbabwe. They have been complaining to me saying I have given them my back. I recently did a compilation of both my old and new songs and on that CD there is a song called “Ndondopetera”, which basically talks about what I am for, for the next two months or so.
I gave it that name after vision I had while holding a show in Ireland. It is because of that vision, which prompted me to come back and embark on the task that I alluded to earlier.
Kune mhepo dzenyika dzakandidzora. Varikumhepo varikuti urikufamba zvako uchitsvaga mapadza, asi kuno kumakombwe tisina dehwe ririkurira. (They are saying you are busy making money out there, while we are starved of spiritually enhancing music).
RB: There have been media reports over the years that you are spirit medium.
SC: I banned that question. In an African culture that is unacceptable, it irritates the soil, stones and the trees! Yohwee!
RB: Any message to your fans?
SC: My mission is to play for the ancestral spirits of Zimbabwe and make them happy. I have since registered an organisation called Chivanhu Trust, which I am also currently promoting. One of its objectives is to conserve, promote and deepen understanding of cultural values and traditional music, particularly mbira music in Zimbabwe and worldwide.
It also seeks to nurture, encourage, enhance and promote women’s participation, involvement and leadership in musical performance and cultural activities.
I am also writing a book on the story of my life, the role that mbira has played in my life. I want to impart and leave knowledge that I have acquired over the years, in my journeys that have taken me to about 25 countries across the globe.
Yapera here mubvunzo?! ( Any more questions?)
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