Zimpapers Logo

Tendai Mavengeni

Sophia Chese-Msowa Arts Correspondent
Mabelreign Girls High form three pupil Tendai Mavengeni stole the show at Harare Culture Week launch at Longcheng Plaza last week.

Mavengeni was part of performers from several schools and traditional dance groups that took part at the launch.

Performing a solo act, Mavengeni played the popular traditional song “Nhemamusasa” with so much passion and exhibited her mbira skills which left people asking for more and many organisations seeking her contact details.

Many people likened the talented young girl to the late mbira princess Chiwoniso Mararire.

In an interview on the sidelines of her performance, Mavengeni, who has one traditional Afro Jazz album to her name so far, said she gives the credit to her mbira teacher at Mabelreign Girls High as well as her parents for the support.

“We have music lessons at school and my music teacher Mr Mhlanga is the one who has been teaching me how to play mbira as well as how to sing,” she said.

She highlighted that she is inspired by all the Zimbabwean women who made it in an industry that is heavily congested by men.

“The likes of people like Chioniso Maraire have inspired me and it is when I think of their successes that I feel I can make it. My confidence was boosted when I launched my first album ‘Destiny’ in 2014.

“I shared the stage with talented Afro Jazz musician Prince Musarurwa and from there I never looked back.”

Mavengeni said she is currently in the studio recording her second album “Tendai” to be released by July.

“I am currently working on my six-track album that I am releasing by end of July. It is another Afro Jazz album.”

Mavengeni who made headlines after she became the youngest mbira recording artiste in Zimbabwe, has had appearances at Book Café, 2012 Protest Arts Festival, UZ World Theatre Day, Women Arts Festival, Zimpapers (Kwayedza) Poetry Awards, Zimbabwe International Book Fair, Mbira Schools Festival and the Mbare Boys’ Scouts Festival.

Today she is one of the finest young female nhare mbira players in the country who has drawn her inspiration from famous Zimbabwean women mbira players like Ambuya Stella Chiweshe, the late Chiwoniso and Claire Nyakujara.