Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
VETERAN author, dub poet and publisher Chirikure Chirikure, along with the late mbira princess Chiwoniso Maraire, enjoyed a rich and fruitful partnership.
Their collaboration will once again capture public attention with the upcoming launch of their duet titled “Chimanimani,” set for June 28.
This piece was secretly recorded 17 years ago at Media For Development Studios in Harare, with Tami Bimha featuring as a sound engineer and it will be unveiled 12 years after Chiwoniso’s death.
Chiwoniso died in 2013 aged 37, leaving a void in the music industry.
As the nation continues to mourn Sista Chi, as she was affectionately known, Zimbabwean music lovers will find solace in “Chimanimani,” which serves as a heartfelt tribute.
The album features five tracks namely “Tinobhomba,” “Chimanimani — Stolen Light,” “Kanyanisa,” “Bread and Roses” and “Mutserendende — Sliding Game.”
In a detailed statement, Chirikure expressed that the posthumous release of “Chimanimani” had been long overdue.
He emphasised the importance of collaboration, reflecting on his relationship with the Maraire family, who helped popularise mbira music beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.
“Slated for release on June 28, 2025, the album was quietly recorded in 2008 and has waited nearly two decades to finally emerge as a poignant, powerful time capsule.
“We recorded at Media For Development, with Tami Bimha as the engineer. The final mix was done by Keith Farquharson at his Bridgenorth Studio. The album will be released under the Bridgenorth Label.
“We always understood that poetry and music are complementary. None of us was backing the other — we were a unit,” he stressed.
Reflecting on his relationship with the Maraire family, he revealed that it dates back to the 1990s when he used to perform alongside Mhuri YaMaraire, a family group that included Chiwoniso, her sister Tawona, and their iconic father, Dumisani Maraire.
According to Chirikure, this partnership birthed DeteMbira, a collective space for poetry and mbira music to converge — from which a rare and seamless artistic fusion was born.
Though they walked separate paths at times — Chiwoniso with her solo acclaim, and Chirikure with his literary and spoken word explorations — the two artistes continually circled back to one another, driven by an instinctive connection.
“There was an amazing natural creative and performance chemistry between us,” recalled Chirikure. “It grew deeper and deeper.”
The affable researcher and literary arts guru shared how financial constraints delayed the release of this five-track acoustic offering, which is set to be embraced by those with an ear for music.
He noted that the album, recorded in 2008, remained on the shelf for years due to financial struggles.
Chirikure’s relocation to Berlin, Germany, for a residency in 2010 and the death of Chiwoniso in 2013 further crippled plans for its timely release.
The only relief now is that the duet will honour Chiwoniso, whose impressive body of work is hard to ignore.
“I tried to release the album when I returned in 2014,” Chirikure explained, “but somehow, I was just lethargic. I guess we all needed time to accept Chiwoniso’s passing.”
“Yet, time may have only deepened the album’s resonance. Now ready to be shared, ‘Chimanimani’ becomes more than just an album — it’s an archival treasure.
“Though deceptively simple in arrangement — one mbira, two voices and sparse percussion — the songs radiate with spiritual complexity. Themes range from social justice to the human yearning for connection and dignity.
“We were particularly drawn to themes around social justice and respect for one another,” Chirikure reflected.
Determined to honour legacies, Chirikure acknowledged sound engineer Bimha, who kept the project in safe hands.
“Despite the passage of time, the original recordings were meticulously preserved.
“Sound engineer Tami Bimha had kept the materials safe, and with the aid of producer Keith Farquharson at Bridgenorth Studios, the album has been given the polish it deserves.
“It’s the greatest tribute you can pay to a fantastic human being and an artist of Chiwoniso’s stature,” emphasised Chirikure, clearly moved.
Chirikure praised Chiwoniso for her timeless classics, captured in her prime, which still carry powerful messages.
“Her words were relevant in 2008 and are even more relevant today. Some have developed new meanings over the years.”
As a researcher and dub poet, Chirikure believes “Chimanimani” will certainly inspire future generations.
“This piece ‘Chimanimani’ is not just a reflection of what was, but a gift to what will be. As younger generations discover this recording, they’re invited into a conversation that spans time — rooted in tradition but alive with relevance.
“For the younger generations, this is an opportunity to feel the past, embrace the legacy, and use that as a foundation to build the future on.”
Explaining the title of the duet, Chirikure added:
“The title track, ‘Chimanimani – Stolen Light,’ perhaps says it best. It captures the ache of loss, the enduring pulse of hope, and the mountain-spirit strength that both artists embodied.
“As this album prepares to take its place on the world stage, it does so not as a relic, but as a living archive of creative excellence.
“A blend of poetic thought and ancestral rhythm, Chimanimani is proof that true art doesn’t fade — it echoes.”
With a rich artistic history in literary arts, spoken word, and music, Chirikure is undoubtedly one of the living legends who has seen it all in this field.
