adminBongani Ndlovu Chronicle Correspondent
AWARD winning traditional dancer Pathisa Nyoni died yesterday morning at Mpilo Central Hospital after collapsing on Sunday afternoon during a performance at a beer garden in Nkulumane. She was 61. Nyoni, who won the Best Outstanding Dance group award with Thandanani Women Ensemble and Outstanding Female Dancer in the 2008 edition of the National Arts Merit Awards, was performing with her newly formed group Iluba Lemvelo when she collapsed at Airport Beer Garden.
She was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital.
Speaking to Chronicle yesterday at the family home in Entumbane suburb, Iluba Lemvelo founder Muchaneta Dube said she was devastated to learn of the passing of Nyoni whom she described as a mother figure in the group.
She said Nyoni, who hailed from Nkayi, was a selfless woman whose vision was the growth of the arts sector in Bulawayo and the country as a whole.
“We are shattered by the loss of Nyoni because she was someone who wanted to uphold culture and would help any group that needed guidance in dancing and singing. Unfortunately she has died and our prayers go out to her family,” said Dube.
Narrating Sunday’s tragedy, Dube said Nyoni was in her usual jovial mood before entering the stage to sing and dance for patrons at the beer garden.
She said as Nyoni went to the front to sing one of their songs Yithi Laba and before she could finish the first line she suddenly fell on her knees and started complaining of chest pains.
“As soon as she opened her mouth to lead us on the first song, she fell on her knees and we rushed to see what was wrong. She then started to complain that she was feeling pain in her chest and she had gone blind. Thereafter we called an ambulance at 3PM and she was rushed to Mpilo at 5PM,” said Dube.
She said when Nyoni was in hospital doctors did some tests on her and found that she was unknowingly afflicted with diabetes.
Dube said the doctors suggested that she spend the night and they decided to buy Nyoni’s prescribed drugs yesterday morning.
“At round 7AM we rushed into town to buy the drugs. We then went to the hospital at 8.30AM, unfortunately when we arrived at the hospital she had already passed on,” she said.
Dube said funeral arrangements would be announced in due course as Nyoni’s children were making their way to Zimbabwe from South Africa.
On social media, messages of condolence started to pour in when programmes officer William Nyandoro of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe in his personal capacity wrote a message informing people of Nyoni’s passing.
In the message Nyandoro said as artistes, they were left poorer because of her death and described Nyoni as a lovely and energetic woman, who was forever smiling.
“I worked closely with MaNyoni and the women of Thandanani travelling to South Africa, Botswana and across the country on many assignments. Rest in peace our dear mother, we are poorer today,” he said.
Mourners are gathered at 31539/9 Entumbane in Bulawayo. Nyoni is survived by her husband and six children and 11 grandchildren.
Online Reporter