Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
FRANCE-BASED diva Tatenda “Queen Mashie” Mashiringo will today fly to her base in Lyon, buoyed by the success of her sixth album, launched recently in Harare.
Titled “Queen Mashie — Rejuvenation,” her well-crafted nine-track album — is rich in both texture and appeal.
The tracks include “Chimwe Nechimwe,” “Huta,” “Higher,” “Lemonade,” “Macharangwanda,” “Unbreakable,” “Stay With Me,” “Tatenda,” and the title track “Rejuvenation.”
After a month of serious recording, and in anticipation of the launch, Queen Mashie — driven by a deep passion for her roots — decided to unveil the album on home soil.
Queen Mashie also revealed that she has a strong connection to her roots, which is why she regularly travels home to meet her peers.
“My music is a conversation between my heritage and experiences abroad,” she said during a question-and-answer session. “Personally, it’s deeply emotional because there is energy in the soul, and the warmth of people is something you can’t find overseas.
“As for the theme of “Rejuvenation,” the inspiration came from a period of burnout when I felt disconnected from my purpose. I realised that renewal isn’t just about rest — it’s about intentional transformation.”
Now settled in France, Queen Mashie believes she made a “good move” in her search for luck there. She added that France has given her exposure to navigate the music terrain — something that has always been her dream. During her stay in Zimbabwe, Queen Mashie was glad to reunite with peers in the entertainment industry, including events management guru Chido Musasiwa, as well as fellow musicians Pauline Gundidza and Diana Samkange, among others. “I am always in touch with my peers back home, and we always chat on the phone even when I am in France. I grew up with some of these peers, and it’s always fun when we catch up and do what we used to do long ago,” she added.
According to her profile, Queen Mashie has been based in Lyon since 2014. She has toured extensively in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UK, France, and Norway.
She started singing at the tender age of four and professionally in 2000, when she joined Andy Brown as a backing vocalist.
She later went solo and joined the Vintage Band with veteran guitarist Timi Makaya as the lead singer. She recorded her debut album, “Higher Heights,” in 2006 before moving to Nairobi, Kenya.
In 2006, she moved to Kenya — Nairobi — to pursue her music career. She worked with the Nyota Safi Band and later joined the Tutu Band as a lead vocalist.
She was signed to Sound Africa and recorded her second album, “Kare Kare (Long Time Ago),” in 2008. She collaborated with different artistes from Zimbabwe and Kenya, and produced her third album, “Queen Mashie Collaboration,” in 2009.
On that album, the song “Ulikuwa Wapi” topped the charts on Nation TV.
In 2011, she recorded her third album, “Mbijana Mbijana,” which produced the hit song “Ndodzungaira.” She also founded the October Women’s Festival in Nairobi in 2013.
She recorded the track “Godo,” which appears on her new album “Time,” launched in Harare in 2015. She has also performed at the Sauti Za Busara Festival in Tanzania and HIFA 2014 in Zimbabwe, among other festivals. Queen Mashie is Zimbabwe’s own version of icons such as Angélique Kidjo, Brenda Fassie, and Miriam Makeba. Now that the mission has been accomplished and she returns to her base, Queen Mashie has vowed to continue working hard to ensure that Zimbabwe is placed firmly on the world map.
“I will keep doing my best and working hard overseas, and make sure that I leave a mark abroad,” she said recently.
After honing her skills under musical greats and growing into a solo artiste, Queen Mashie is undoubtedly one of Zimbabwe’s finest exports, performing well on the international stage.
Despite her busy schedule overseas, she still makes time for music, an art that is demanding.
She has ensured that she remains relevant by consistently recording and producing new material, which has been embraced both locally and overseas. Her quest is also to have honour on her homeland.
