Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
SONGBIRD Pah Chihera has vowed to champion the rights of upcoming female musicians, particularly those at risk of falling victim to sexual abuse and economic exploitation in the creative industry.
Born Pamhidzai Tracy Mbirimi, the 35-year-old singer believes she has a responsibility to mentor and empower the next generation of female stars, drawing from her own experiences in the music industry.
Pah Chihera rose to prominence with her 2013 hit “Runonzi Rudo”, a collaboration with the late Prince Musarurwa, and has since carved a niche for herself as one of the country’s leading Afro-fusion and contemporary music voices.
Having weathered the highs and lows of a demanding career, the songbird is now keen to use her experience to guide young musicians and help them navigate the challenges that come with pursuing careers in the creative sector. One of the key messages she has been imparting to young women is the need to be confident, resolute and courageous in confronting challenges.
“Never let anyone tell you who you are. Never let your past mistakes define you,” she said.
“Never give up. It is your duty to fix your crown every day and embrace the Queen you are because if you don’t, no one will. Love what you do and believe in yourself.”
With plenty still to offer the creative sector, Pah Chihera is also looking forward to an exciting final quarter of 2026, with new music on the way.
“New music that will entail my path and journey so far is coming. I want to share my story through music, the only communication I know, and maybe I can touch someone who has walked in the same path,” she told Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub.
As a multi-tasking creative, Pah Chihera also revealed what has kept her busy for much of the year, as well as her plans for the future.
“Corporate and personal engagements have been keeping me busy nowadays.
“I have been booked by different corporates and for private functions. Additionally, I was blessed with a baby boy in August, and it has been a blessing,” she added.
The celebrated Afro-fusion and contemporary music exponent’s journey to stardom would be incomplete without mentioning Musarurwa’s contribution to her career.
Their collaboration on “Runonzi Rudo” was a match made in heaven and remains one of the most memorable musical partnerships to emerge from Zimbabwe since the turn of the millennium. Sadly, Musarurwa succumbed to cancer in 2020 at the age of 31.
His death was a devastating blow to the creative sector and particularly painful for Pah Chihera, who was also a close relative of the late musician. Years later, she still finds it difficult to come to terms with the loss.
Despite the loss, Pah Chihera has remained active in the music industry and continued to release songs that touch on love, hope, and social issues.
She has also used music as a vehicle for self-introspection, reflecting on her journey as a creative, mentor and mother, as well as the responsibilities that come with balancing different aspects of her life.
In her career, she has also produced a rich catalogue that proves she is far from being a one-hit wonder.
Her notable songs include “Musavadadire Varume”, “Murume Wangu”, “Sinyoro Vaenda”, “Sarura Wako” and “Haitongwi Nedemo”, among others.
