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Fred Zindi Music column
It was a noble idea for Cindy Munyavi and Clare Nyakudjara to come up with the concept “KuMabhebhi” which seeks to unite all the female musicians by giving women-only performances  and supporting female causes.
The “KuMabhebhi” concept, a monthly gig initiated to showcase female artistes, had until recently revolved around afro-fusion, r ‘n’ b and urban grooves.

As Munyavi put it, “KuMabhebhi’ is all about women elevating each other. “KuMabhebhi” is a platform for women and every woman from all the music genres.”

Indeed a few concerts have been held under that banner, but do all women musicians understand this concept? Will they unite under this “KuMabhebhi banner”? I wonder!

When I saw Cindy in a recent Press report, pictured together with Lady Squanda , my immediate reaction was: ‘Two strange bedfellows!’. In my opinion, these two ladies are poles apart in terms of personality and character.

Lady Squanda, according to many Press reports, is filled with controversy and scandals while Cindy is portrayed as naive and scandal-free.

Cindy is classified as an urban groover while Lady Squanda is a dancehall artiste. Dancehall is often associated with drugs, sex, alcohol and violence.

The only thing I thought they shared in common was the fact that they are both female singers. Apart from that, I could not think of anything else. I was soon proved right when Cindy and Clare tried to put up a “KuMabhebhi” dancehall performance at The Book Cafe on April 3 which included Lady Squanda and Bounty Lisa.

Clare, who was obviously excited about introducing dancehall to their “KuMabhebhi” profile had this to say, “We have chosen dancehall because let us face it, it is the in thing. Dancehall is what people are talking about and it is really entertaining.

“We want these dancehall ladies to sing on their own without curtain raising for their male counterparts,” she added.

Munyavi also believes the “KuMabhebhi” concerts cannot afford to ignore the raging dancehall craze that has taken Zimbabwe by storm.

“This is a night for dancehall lovers and curious people alike to witness what happens in dancehall circles.

“We are now engaging more genres and soon it will be gospel,” she  remarked referring to the Book Cafe gig.

However, as expected,  neither of these two artistes, Lady Squanda and Bounty Lisa turned up at the Book Cafe for the “KuMabhebhi” show.

They did not even have the courtesy to call the concert organisers to give their apologies for the non-appearance.

Instead Sister Flame backed by Donald Kanyuchi (male) on guitar and Shinsoman (male dancehall artiste) saved the night. The “KuMabhebhi” concept had failed that night, thanks to Squanda and Bounty Lisa.

Both Cindy and Clare, the concert organisers, let alone the dancehall fans who had turned up in their dozens on that night were disappointed.

This is not the first time this kind of thing has happened. Several music promoters are disappointed with the way these two “ladies”  (Squanda and Bounty Lisa) conduct their business.

At a recent concert dubbed “Mini Heroes Splash”, Lady Squanda only performed for less than half of an hour and unexpectedly stormed off the stage for good.

Fans and show organisers thought she was taking a breather and would return to the stage only to realise later that she had chickened out.

Event organisers tried to contact her for explanation, but her manager did not answer the calls to his mobile phone.

An official from Super Label said that they were disappointed by the way the artiste conducted herself.

On another occasion, the ever controversial, Lady Squanda disappeared from the stage in a huff while performing  at a night club in the capital city.

Though she later made an apology to the show organiser, Biggie Chinoperekwei, that antic reinforced the belief in dancehall circles on her volatile character.

It seems Squanda believes in intrigue, scandals and controversy as her selling points.

Recently, she was accused of stealing a song by a Bulawayo dancehall artiste hardly six months after she allegedly failed to deliver mobile phones cosmetics and groceries entrusted to her during a tour to the United Kingdom by Zimbabweans based in that country.

Instead of handing over the phones to the relatives of the diasporans, Lady Squanda reportedly became rude when she was asked what had become of the smart phones
The 21-year-old had the cheek to denigrate the diasporans who had sent her text messages: “Muri matsaga, murikundiitira papazi” (You are all stupid).”

In another disparaging text she said, “Une dzungu (You are crazy).”

One of the promoters of the UK tour, Osa Dangerzone, a diasporan promoter from Dzivarasekwa in Harare, confirmed  to me that he had entrusted two phones with Lady Squanda, one phone meant for his mother and the other for his father-in-law but Squanda initially claimed the phones had been seized by Zimbabwe customs. Osa Dangerzone tells me that It was only after he had threatened to expose Squanda through Facebook and also followed this up with a news reporter that she decided to give in. His mother and father-in-law eventually received the phones.

Not long ago, Squanda also took her ceaseless bizarre antics to a new low when she faked her own death in an attempt to market an upcoming song entitled ‘Rufu Rwa Squanda’.

Lady Squanda (real name Sandra Gazi), at the age of 21, has already been married twice, first to DJ Staera and then barely a month after she split up with Staera, to someone else only identified as TJ.

Despite her unpredictable character, the young dancehall artiste who was raised by her maternal grandmother, Eunice Tomana, following the death of her mother when she was five years old,  remains fairly popular in the country and among Zimbabweans in the diaspora.

I guess this is why she won the best female dancehall artiste award recently.

Lady Squanda has shared the stage with a number of top international artistes including Jamaican dancehall star Capleton aka King Shango.

Meanwhile the “KuMabhebhi” show promoters, Cindy and Clare are back to the drawing board after the Lady Squanda and Bounty Lisa disappointment.

Instead of sitting back as promoters, perhaps Cindy and Clare should re-consider going back on stage like they did way back at the “KuMabhebhi” concert which they showcased at the Private Lounge with Diana Samkange, and show these youngsters how to be professional.

Cindy who recently released the single “Parere Moyo” as a follow up to “Ndidzorere Moyo Wangu” which all have to do with finding love again after a broken heart, is a star in her own right.

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