Gogo Mattaka reflects on the good old days

most.”
Those were the words of the woman pioneer of jazz music in Zimbabwe, Lina Mattaka.
Speaking at jazz music honours dinner held in Harare, Gogo Mattaka could not help reminisce on her younger days.
“I still enjoy being on stage and when I see a crowd I want to sing for them. It’s just that age is catching with me and yet the love for music is still in me,” she said.
Despite her advanced years, Gogo Mattaka still oozes with as much energy as her younger days. She knows how to swing on the dancefloor and her voice still soothes souls.
Gogo Mattaka, who turns 89, later this year, said she was proud to see young women like Dudu Manhenga gaining respect in mainstream music.
“When we started out music it was unheard of for a woman to go on stage and perform, but when I see these youngsters likes Dudu I feel proud that they now have the platform to perform.
“There are several of my grandchildren who are following in my footsteps and that is very encouraging,” she said.
Already, one of her several grandchildren, Tatenda Vengesai, is following in her footsteps.
Gogo Mattaka, who is based in Bulawayo, was honoured together with the Cool Crooners and Dorothy “Auntie Dot” Masuka at a glittering event.
She was presented with US$1 000 and a certificate by the organisers of the Harare Jazz Festival with funding from Coke Zero.
According to Sam Mataure, the festival founder and artistic director, the awards were meant to recognise the contributions made by the pioneers of local jazz music.
“As a festival, we found it fitting to honour these celebrated jazz personalities for their unmatched individual contributions to township jazz in Zimbabwe and the region. They inspired generations of musicians and set the standards that today’s musicians follow,” he said.
Gogo Mattaka is a trailblazing pioneer of women’s creativity and participation in Zimbabwe’s music industry. She is a celebrated soprano and organ player who started her career in Bulawayo in the 1930s.
This was a period when society frowned upon women who entered the music industry and performed in public, outside of church and traditional ceremonies.
Through her determination and hard work she helped change society’s attitudes and perceptions, opening doors for today’s female musicians.
Gogo Mattaka cut her jazz teeth with such groups as The Bantu Glee Singers and The Queen of Soprano before joining her husband, the late Kenneth Mattaka, in The Bantu Actors.
The Harare Jazz Festival is a high-profile annual event that brings together prominent jazz artistes and groups from across Zimbabwe and the region to celebrate the development and growth of jazz music in the country.
To date, the festival has had two editions, 2009 and 2010.
These were highly successful festivals in terms of attracting the expected audiences, event management and value addition to the music industry and strategic partners.
Since its inception, the festival has successfully hosted the following international stars: Hugh Masekela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Oliver Mtukudzi, The Cool Crooners, Silvia Manco Quartet, Judith Sephuma, Ringo Madlingozi and Jimmy Dludlu, among others.