adminTrust Khosa
VIRGINIA Mukwesha, the daughter of the late mbira queen Mbuya Stella Chiweshe, is back home from her European base.
After settling in Germany for over three decades, she still has a soft spot for her beloved Goromonzi.
This area is a bit special to Virginia since it raised her late father and football icon, Freddy Mukwesha.
The 57-year-old, who is also a fine mbira artist in her own right, is now on a mission to fulfil her mother’s wish.
“I flew back recently but I have been confined to our holiday home in Goromonzi sprucing up the place.
“I prefer my privacy and I am simply trying to make good use of this vacation.
“I hope to fulfil quite a number of projects during my stay here. In my life, the environment and everything around that area is very special.”
Prior to her visit, she told H-Metro that life would never be the same without Mbuya Chiweshe.
“I still miss talking to her.
“We both enjoyed the long phone calls we had every Saturday.
“The shortest ones lasted two hours and the longest ones up to five hours.
“Sometimes, she would sing vachiti ndidairewo rumbo rwangu. I am still processing the loss.
“One of the artists who was angling for a collaboration with her is Vee Mhofu.
Mbuya Stella Chiweshe died on January 20 after losing her battle against a brain tumour.
She was given a State burial.
Mbuya Chiweshe was buried in Masembura, Bindura.
Her traditional burial attracted hordes of mourners ranging from politicians, fellow musicians, actors and spirit mediums.
Meanwhile, Virginia has stepped up efforts to produce a book chronicling Mbuya Chiweshe’s life.
She is set to hold a tribute show in Germany on July 13 at Humboldt Forum in Berlin.
She last performed in September last year, one month before her mother was admitted to hospital.
Her debut album was released in 1993.
However, the biggest challenge she faces is to keep her mother’s legacy alive.
A doyen of Zimbabwean culture, Mbuya Chiweshe toured Europe extensively before she settled in Germany.
Online Reporter