Tafadzwa Zimoyo
Zimpapers Entertainment Editor
There are television sweethearts who never seem to change, never grow old and have remained familiar faces since the days when families gathered around television sets for their favourite programmes.
The good thing about the advent of the digital age is that these personalities have not only maintained their relevance, but have also found new spaces to command attention, with social media giving them another lease of life.
In western music, the likes of Brandy and Madonna continue to enjoy their place in the spotlight, while on television and film, Morgan Freeman remains one of those familiar faces whose presence appears timeless.
Zimbabwe has its fair share of such personalities, and gospel musician Fungisai Zvakavapano Mashavave certainly belongs in that conversation.
Meet her today and one could easily be forgiven for thinking that time has been particularly generous to her.
If you encountered Fungisai in 1999, when she was making her way into the music industry, you would probably recognise the same youthful face, infectious smile and unmistakable personality that audiences still enjoy today.
Is it the Benjamin Button phenomenon, the fictional character who grew younger as the years went by?
While Benjamin Button’s story was one of growing backwards, Fungisai appears to have discovered her own version of the fountain of youth.
But beneath the youthful appearance, trademark long braids and seemingly effortless ability to reinvent herself lies a woman whose story goes beyond beauty and music.
She is a mother of three, a wife, a social scientist, a postgraduate who recently completed her Master’s in Clinical Social Work and a woman now pursuing law studies.
For Fungisai, the secret to remaining youthful is not necessarily found in expensive beauty products or complicated lifestyle routines.
In an interview with Zimpapers Entertainment Hub, she said like what they say, the only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.
“Honestly, it starts on the inside,” said Fungisai. “Joy is the best skincare I know. I try not to carry grudges or let negativity settle in my spirit, and believe me, social media tests that every week!”
She believes that continuous learning, prayer, laughter, adequate rest and surrounding herself with people who genuinely love her have contributed to her outlook on life.
“I’ve also kept learning. I just finished my Master’s in Clinical Social Work and I’m now studying law, and I think a mind that keeps growing keeps the face young too,” said Fungisai.
“Add prayer, laughter, good rest and people who love you, and you have my secret.”
While many would perhaps be tempted to reveal their age when discussing the secret behind their youthful looks, Fungisai has other ideas.
“A matriarch never tells!” she joked., Fungisai revealed that she celebrates her birthday in January, with the coming celebrations set to coincide with the official launch of her forthcoming album, The Matriarch, at the ChurchPersons Gala.
Away from the stage, Fungisai’s approach to food and fitness is equally grounded.
Rather than embracing complicated diets, she remains connected to traditional Zimbabwean cuisine, with traditional vegetables and home-grown foods featuring prominently in her lifestyle.
“I’m a village girl at heart, so I love traditional food – nyevhe, nyimo, manhanga, sadza rezviyo, road runner etc. I try to eat whole food and keep processed things to a minimum,” she said.
Water, sauna sessions and dancing also form part of her routine, although she does not appear particularly obsessed with conventional gym workouts.
“For exercise I do a lot of dancing and laughing. Rehearsals and performing are my main workout,” she said.
Perhaps the most interesting part of Fungisai’s story is her relationship with rural life.
Her movement between an upmarket lifestyle and the countryside has sometimes been viewed as a transition, but she sees it differently. For her, it is a homecoming.
She traces her roots to Gutu in an area called Nyamandi, where she was raised by her grandmother during her kindergarten years, before spending much of her school holidays in Buhera’s Nechavava, Zvakavapano Maeresera village.
She maintained a connection with her paternal grandmother’s home in Gutu, Mondo Village, close to Nyazvidzi River.
“People think it’s a transition, but it’s really a homecoming,” she said.
“Inevitably, underneath the city and stage lights there is a rural girl that cannot be erased in me no matter where I go.”
Her social science background has also influenced how she views communities and the people whose experiences inform her music.
She recalls how her family and friends featured in the video for Fambai Neni, including Tobias wekwaGutu and Frets Donzvo.
“I’m a social scientist by training. I study people and communities, and the rural setting keeps me honest and connected to the stories I sing about,” she said.
Her ability to navigate different environments, she believes, is part of her personality.
“I’m warm, I’m resilient, I laugh easily and I don’t stay down long. I can move between lifestyles because I belong in all those settings,” said Fungisai.
Behind the public personality is also a mother who understands that managing a music career and raising a family requires more than simply finding time.
Fungisai is blessed with three children, two boys and a girl, and says motherhood remains central to her priorities.
“I don’t believe in a perfect balance. I believe in priorities and a good support system.
“My family comes first and I involve my children in what I do so they understand the work rather than resent it,” she said.
She acknowledges the support of her husband, his family and her own relatives, while running her brand with the structure and discipline of a business.
It is perhaps this understanding of women’s responsibilities that gives her forthcoming album, The Matriarch, a deeper meaning.
The project is inspired by two women who have shaped her understanding of strength, family and legacy.
The first is her mother, whom she describes as the first matriarch she ever knew.
The second is Mrs Shuvai Wutawunashe, whom she regards as a matriarch of Zimbabwean gospel music.
She particularly admires Mrs Wutawunashe’s contribution as the lead voice of The Family Singers, her longevity in gospel music and the mentorship she and her husband, Jonathan Wutawunashe, provided through Gospel Bandstand.
“My mother showed me how to hold a family together, and Mai Shuvai showed me how to build a Gospel music legacy. The Matriarch is my tribute to women like them,” she said.
Musically, Fungisai’s journey has been characterised by versatility, something that has not always been immediately understood by her audience.
Songs such as Vanogona, Makomborero and Toita Zvedenga introduced her to a wider national audience, with fans continuing to sing along to them years after their release.
She refuses to single out one favourite.
“They are like my children, each with a unique purpose and audience,” said Fungisai. “Right now, though, I’m very attached to my latest album and I am failing to get enough of every song on it.”
Her ChurchPersons concept has also grown into a platform that brings together different gospel artists, generations and musical backgrounds.
She admits that the concept initially encountered resistance, with some questioning her versatility and mistaking it for a lack of direction.
But she believes that perception has changed.
“Some people mistook my versatility for confusion or even backsliding. But I stayed true to my calling and let the fruit speak,” she said.
Today, Fungisai says, the ChurchPersons following cuts across generations, denominations and backgrounds, with audiences increasingly embracing the collective approach.
Her trademark long single braids have meanwhile become part of her identity, offering both practicality and a recognisable image.
The hairstyle, she explains, has been a preference since her early days in music, particularly because it is easy to maintain despite her love for swimming.
The next chapter is already taking shape through The Matriarch, which will be introduced through a series of listening parties.
The first is scheduled for November 29 at Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles, where an All-White Pool Party will introduce four new songs. Nyaradzo Group and Ecobank are partners in the event.
The occasion will also celebrate her Master’s graduation, making it a double milestone.
A second listening party is scheduled for January 24, building towards the ChurchPersons Gala at the end of February, which will bring together her birthday celebrations and the official album launch.
For someone who has spent decades navigating the music industry, the forthcoming project appears to be more than another collection of songs.
It is a celebration of womanhood, motherhood, faith, mentorship and the importance of creating space for others.
And perhaps that is the real explanation behind Fungisai’s seemingly timeless appeal. While her face may suggest that the years have stood still, her mind, career and ambitions tell a different story: a woman who continues to grow, learn and reinvent herself without abandoning the roots that shaped her.
