Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko
Metros Editor
BEFORE Denilson Musekiwa transformed himself into a celebrity saxophonist, who now provides the soundtrack at wedding and birthday parties, he was just another little schoolboy in Chitungwiza.
A photograph, in which he was captured in his blue school uniform, with a shade of brown, grey socks and black shoes, posing with his relatives in their Zengeza 3 home garden, has emerged.
Denilson appears to be standing at attention and there is nothing to suggest that this is the boy who would grow up to be a dread- locked hunk who is now a celebrity saxophonist.
His brother, Anotidaishe, was also captured in the same photograph and so were his two female relatives Nyasha and Vongainashe Mubaiwa.
The two girls, just like the two brothers, were also in their school uniforms.
A lot has changed since those days of their childhood innocence.
Denilson has since carved his name as a celebrity saxophonist who provides the soundtrack for many special occasions in Harare.
He has worked with some of the best artists in the country including Jah Prayzah, Winky D, Baba Harare, Trevor Dongo, Takura, Nutty O and Janet Manyowa.
It’s been quite a remarkable journey for Denilson who started as a pianist in church in 2010, turned into a guitarist four years later and a saxophonist in 2018.
He is no stranger to playing his saxophone at weddings but even in his wildest dreams he probably never imagined that one day he would be playing it at the wedding of his relative Vongaishe Mubaiwa.
Well, they grew up together at Denilson’s family home in Zengeza 3 and recently they were at one of the most exclusive wedding venues in Africa, in the heart of the Stellenbosch winelands, to celebrate as Vongaishe tied the knot.
Now 31, Vongaishe lives in Canada and she married her Nigerian sweetheart, Reney Edebiri, 35, who also lives in the North American country.
Reney is the son of a Nigerian chief and his family also flew into the Western Cape from Nigeria and Canada for the wedding.
Vongaishe’s family also flew in from Zimbabwe and Canada for the wedding.
The wedding party started with a cocktail party at the Rooftop on Bree in Cape Town.
The organisers wanted it to be different. “We’ve moved from original all-white dress
code and we are now embracing blue – bold or pastel, it’s all welcome,” read the invitation card.
The ceremony then switched to the luxurious Johannesdal 1207, in the heart of Stellebosch, for the main ceremony.
Johannesbal 1207 prides itself as a hidden gem which is the “embodiment of a group of friends’ dream to create an exclusive destination where their guests could celebrate in fitting company and in an unforgettable location.”
It is located on what used to be an elephant path which was used by the first European settlers, who chose to live on these winelands, as the route to Cape Town harbour.
It’s located on a farm, which was founded in 1898, and it has been transformed into one of the top wedding venues on the continent.
“As a wedding photographer, I’ve been lucky enough to capture multiple celebrations here over the years,” says Jenni Elizabeth, a leading Cape Town-based wedding photographer, on her blog.
“What strikes me every time is how different each wedding feels, even though the set- ting remains the same.
“That’s the beauty of Johannesdal: it’s elegant, versatile, and effortlessly transforms to reflect each couple’s unique vision.
“The estate feels like a private sanctuary, with every corner offering another stunning backdrop for photos. From the ceremony lawns framed by mountains, to the reflective ponds, to the sweeping reception hall, it’s a photographer’s dream.
“What I love most is how the venue balances grandeur with intimacy. Whether it’s a 200-guest celebration or a more intimate affair, Johannesdal never feels overwhelming
– it always feels personal.”
Denilson’s father is celebrity football fan, Romario Musekiwa, the man who is as famous as the footballers whom he has been supporting all his life.
He is a proud Warriors and Dynamos fan and has travelled around the continent supporting his favourite teams.
His next football adventure is likely to be a trip to Morocco where the Warriors are set to play at the 2015 AFCON finals next month. Romario took care of Vongaishe at his home in Zengeza 3 when her mother left to work in the United States before she later settled in Canada.
Vongaishe, who has two degrees under her belt, later joined her mother in North America and it was in Canada where she met her husband Reney.
“I’m very proud of how life has shaped out for Vongaishe and I am also very happy that she has met the man of her dreams and that the two agreed to do it the right way by organising this special wedding,” he told H-Metro. “They chose a special place for their union and it was good to see the two families there and celebrating this special occasion.
“If you really believe in God nothing is impossible.
“Vongaishe waited for the right man and she has been rewarded for her patience because Reney is, indeed, a very special man and I am confident that he will be an even more special husband.”
The images that have been coming out from the special wedding ceremony, in the heart of the famed Stellenbosch winelands, are also special.
They are distinctly different from the photograph of Vongaishe and Denilson, which was taken at their home in Zengeza 3 in Chitungwiza, all those years ago, when they were still in their school uniforms.
The didn’t know it back then that fate had something special for them – Denilson became the celebrity saxophonist and Vongaishe is living her own dream.
One thing remains for Romario, though, this year – waiting to know the fate of his beloved Glamour Boys who are batting to avoid relegation in the Premier Soccer League.
He will be hoping that it will also have a Cinderella ending like what he enjoyed in the heart of the Western Cape.
