Kagona was humble and open-minded: creatives

Entertainment Editor
The late Bhundu Boys lead guitarist Rise Kagona has been described as a humble and open-minded person who always welcomed ideas.
Kagona, who died last month at the age of 62, was buried at the Warren Hills Cemetery on Saturday. Hundreds of mourners including fellow musicians and creatives attended the burial.
He was buried next to the late Baba na Mai Zex Manatsa and soccer legend George Shaya.
Kagona is survived by his daughter Sandra and son Clever from his first marriage to Nancy Mahonye, and his son Christian, from his second marriage to Barbara Dzokai.
Speaking at the burial, fellow musician Pastor Charles Charamba said he was devasted by Kagona’s death.
“I heard the news while I was away in Mozambique and was very hurt and I thought he was buried in the United Kingdom. I was not in touch with the family,” he said.
“Ever since I started music, I was so much inspired by the group Bhundu Boys in 1985. I managed to notice their different attributes which made me fall in love with Kenny Chitsvatsva, Shacky, the late Bigge Tembo, Rise Kagona and David Mankaba.”
“I thank God because this was the first band I got to know in the industry. Music is different and diverse as listeners you cannot always tell what the singer wanted to bring out in a song or how he or she was interpreting it.”
Pastor Charamba said he had an opportunity to meet and sit down with the late Kagona.
“We discussed a lot of things but what amazed me was he loved God.
He was a loving person, carefree, humble and open-minded. I am happy he died while knowing God. May his soul rest in peace. I encourage all my fellow artistes to emulate the late Kagona, to accept God and make him the ultimate authority of power,” he said.
Biggie Tembo widow, Ratidzai said she was very hurt and the industry has lost a humble and loving person.
“I am disheartened by the death of Kagona. He worked with my late husband Biggie for a long time from the era where they were at Saratoga,” she said.
“Kagona assisted his friend Biggie with money for my lobola. He was a nice person and I can say we have lost a legend.”
Another fellow creative and friend Barny Mpariwa of Star Brite chronicled his memories with the late Kagona.
“I remember meeting Kagona, during my time when I was doing Ezomgido- Mvengemvenge musical show on ZTV,” said Mpariwa.
“I was the first to interview Bhundu Boys on local television. It is unfortunate that in our industry we do not support and appreciate our artistes while they are still alive. We wait until we reach such a time and start to say many things but we can do better as an industry.”
He urged people to share and express their love for artistes while they are still alive.

“Bhundu Boys have been celebrated and appreciated internationally. I had not spoken to mukoma Rise for about 15 years until not so long ago when my relationship with him was strengthened after one of my closest friends Chabate married in the same area as mukoma Rise. We were together in the United States as well,” said Mpariwa.
“When this happened, I felt compelled to do this. I want to thank some of the stakeholders who came on board. I said to myself I want to be part of this because I want to honour mukoma Rise. If you had time to sit down with the family the situation was difficult for them.”
The Bhundu Boys were regular chart toppers in Zimbabwe in the early 80s.
They were then chosen by Scottish singer “Champion” Doug Veitch, who co-founded the DiscAfrique record label to showcase contemporary African music beyond their homeland.
Veitch brought the band to Scotland, and soon they were being hailed by the likes of Eric Clapton and Elvis Costello, or else lighting up the airwaves on Andy Kershaw’s influential BBC radio programme and John Peel’s late-night show.
The eventual demise of the Bhundu Boys and resultant deaths of some group members saw Kagona settle in Edinburgh, where he played live with assorted fellow travellers, protecting the often-misunderstood Bhundu Boys legacy to the end.