Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
IN Zimbabwe, mentors often go unrecognised for their sacrifices.
They tirelessly polish “rough diamonds”, pouring in sweat, sacrifice and support — the “triple S” that defines their commitment.
Yet, when their mentees achieve success, these mentors are often quickly forgotten.
If they later fall on hard times and seek assistance, they are sometimes dismissed as “crybabies” or “time-wasters” who failed to make hay while the sun shone.
Sadly, it is only after their passing away that eulogies flood social media and formal platforms.
This unfortunate pattern is prevalent across various fields, including sports, showbiz and various other forms of art.
Could this also be the case for Shepherd Chinyani?
The situation of this revered music teacher might be publicly known, but he desperately needs help.
He is facing severe challenges, battling cancer.
The musician has now relocated to rural Seke, which he now calls home.
This move comes after 65 years as an urban resident. He lived in Dzivaresekwa, Harare.
In a recent interview with Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub, the veteran musician sounded disheartened, expressing a sense of betrayal by some of the very artistes he mentored in their early careers.
The Vhuka Boys frontman even provided for some top musicians, who were older than him, during his time in Dzivaresekwa before misfortune struck.
These include the late John Chibadura and Tinei Chikupo, as well as living legends Madzibaba Nicholas Zakaria and Alick Macheso.
Now grounded in Seke communal lands with no source of income, Chinyani revealed that he has been surviving purely by God’s grace.
“I am now staying in Seke near Besa Primary School with my two wives, but at the moment, things do not look good for me and my family,” he said.
“I moved here in 2022 after selling my house in Dzivaresekwa for US$18 000 because city life was proving too difficult for my family. The other reason I sold the house was to pay my medical bills and find alternative accommodation for my wives and children.
“Currently, illness has kept me confined, as my leg has an infection. My wife also has breast cancer. Our situation is grim. We have been living from hand to mouth, a sharp contrast to when I was in Dzivaresekwa, where I used to repair damaged speakers and guitars.”
Although he has a place to live, his Seke home requires significant renovations.
“Of course, I now have a place that I call home, but one side of the structure needs roofing and the floors still need to be done. Unfortunately, I do not have the money to do any of this,” he said.
Chinyani, who will turn 67 on June 14, is eager to return to work.
“Music is one of the professions I have known since childhood and my passion lies in teaching youngsters. However, right now, I do not have equipment,” he explained.
“I have noticed many talented young people in this area, but I lack the necessary equipment to teach them. I sold some of my speakers to help my family, and I am currently only left with my guitar.”
The veteran musician, who has now embraced a rural lifestyle, revealed that he still has vivid dreams about his former Dzivaresekwa home.
He clearly has strong emotional attachment with the place, and so do many seasoned musicians in the country.
“To be honest, I still dream about sleeping in that house at number 1757 Mashambanzou Street, where I groomed and sheltered several musicians,” he said.
“I sometimes regret the move I made, but at the same time, I had no choice but to sell it to save lives. As a father of 12 with 29 grandchildren, I also longed to build a bigger house where I could accommodate my family, and this option seemed viable.”
He continued: “I easily get emotional when people ask me why I decided to sell the Dzivaresekwa house, but I took a gamble that has cost me dearly.
“It was in this house that I looked after John Chibadura, who was much older than me, when he approached me to perfect his guitar-playing skills.
“I stayed with him in 1980, while Nicholas (Zakaria) stayed at my house from 1981 to 1982. Macheso arrived around 1986 after being recommended by someone.”
The long list of musicians he assisted includes Ngwenya Brothers founders Tedious, Jabulani and Michael Matsito, who were given shelter and free guitar lessons by Chinyani.
Padding Kamusakara, the R & K African Sounds duo of Rangarirai Sagombeto and Kelvin Chikore, along with Somandla “Mafia” Ndebele, are also among the top stars who received Chinyani’s help.
When asked how he acquired the Dzivaresekwa house, Chinyani explained: “Around 1979, I used to run a makeshift market stall in Mt Hampden where my stepfather worked. My primary stock was mice (mbeva), which caught the attention of my stepfather’s employer.
“The white man, whose name was Altiner Gattner, facilitated my getting a house at Remembrance through my savings and it felt like a miracle to me.”
Now, with his current struggles, the veteran teacher feels those he helped before should assist him.
“I have been listening to some interviews by top artistes whom I looked after, but they do not acknowledge that I gave them shelter and free guitar lessons,” he lamented.
“One day, I heard another guy say he got to know Harare when he stayed in Dzivaresekwa, but he could not mention where he stayed or who looked after him. I am not bitter about their success, but why can’t they simply acknowledge me?”
Chinyani appeared particularly bitter with Zakaria, whom he accuses of belittling him.
“Each time Madzibaba talks about his time in Dzivaresekwa, he refers to our group (Vhuka Boys) as ‘kamwe kaband’ (just another small band), yet he was earning a living from that outfit,” he said.
“It is sad when someone like Madzibaba is not ashamed to be honest in front of cameras.”
Chinyani’s elder wife, Esthery, corroborated her husband’s claims.
“What he is saying is true, but the only challenge with his students is that they have forgotten their teacher at a time when he is sick,” he said.
“It is sad that we have unappreciative people and only God knows. I was there when all this was happening and it is just unfortunate that we are here struggling now.”
Online Reporter