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Emmanuel Ndlovu Saturday Leisure Correspondent
THE passing on of mbira icon Chiwoniso “Chi” Maraire in July, left many broken hearts.
Lovers of mbira music in Zimbabwe and across the globe were indeed robbed of a music icon who was talented in blending sounds of mbira with contemporary music.
So soulful were her songs particularly hits such as Wandirasa, Mai and Ivai Nesu, which would often leave a listener deeply moved.
Besides arousing emotions, Maraire’s songs were pregnant with important cultural messages and they reflected so much on the roots of the Zimbabwean people.
Due to this, Maraire was a great cultural ambassador of Zimbabwe throughout the world through her songs.
Some of her colleagues in the music industry who are feeling Maraire’s departure have set to pay tribute to her.
Among these, is a Bulawayo-based house group, Bluez Elements, which has seen it befitting to dedicate a song to the late Maraire.
They have dedicated a song titled Chiwoniso, which talks about her great contribution to the local music industry.
The song is one of the tracks in the outfit’s five-track debut album called Ekasi. It is a fusion of sounds of mbira and some elements of deep house and tribal house
Keith Nyathi, the group producer said Chi, as she was affectionately known by her legion of followers, was a seasoned artiste whose music uplifted Zimbabwean culture across all the nations.
He said as one of the budding local group, they felt the need to honour Maraire, as her soulful music connected people to their customs
“Maraire was undoubtedly one of the music icons that contributed immensely to the development of our traditional music through her rare talent of playing mbira.
“As the group, Chi was our source of inspiration hence we have dedicated the track, Chiwoniso to her. It is just a blend of sounds of mbira and a bit of house,” said Nyathi.
Bluez Elements is a youthful outfit based in Luveve and they do most of their work at the Urban Movement Studio.
The group is made up of Eugine Makuta, Ngoni Moyo, Nyathi and Marshall Ngulube.
They concentrate on blending traditional instruments such as mbira, djembe and drum with contemporary sounds of deep house.
Online Reporter