Online Reporter
Trust Khosa-Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
FRANCE-BASED Afro-pop and jazz artiste, Queen Mashie, has shared how her experience with incarceration and rehabilitation for drug-fuelled domestic violence transformed her personality.
Born Tatenda Mashiringo, the versatile diva, who has made Lyon her second home since 2014, firmly believes that drugs are destructive.
Queen Mashie, the younger sister of the late veteran musician Andy Brown, told Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub that she was now in a strong position to campaign against drug and substance abuse.
“Between 2018 and 2020, I was arrested and jailed for domestic violence after I attacked my partner, who introduced me to drugs,” she recounted.
“I was led into drug and substance abuse by my former husband, and I became uncontrollable. At one point, I even attacked him with a broken beer bottle.
“Up to now, I can’t recall how I attacked him, and I am relieved that I didn’t kill him; otherwise, I could be in jail. The incident was severe, and the correctional officers provided me with the support I needed to reform.”
Queen Mashie, who will be coming to Zimbabwe in April for the launch of her sixth album titled “Queen Mashie Rejuvenation,” has vowed to fully utilise her influence to denounce drug and substance abuse.
“My advice to fellow Zimbabweans and creatives who have never tasted drugs is to maintain that lifestyle. Drug addiction is hard to fight, and it takes a lot for someone to fully recover.
“In my case, I am glad that I managed to get help in time and I won’t slide back to drugs,” she stated.
Queen Mashie also called for a collective effort to win the battle against drug and substance abuse, which is not only haunting Zimbabwe but the entire globe.
“I am calling for creatives and influencers to champion this fight for the good of the industry.
“As one of the popular musicians who was into drugs, I am using my example to combat this scourge. I will do more of these campaigns when I come back home,” asserted the diva.
Queen Mashie, who has roped in the services of Willis Wataffi and Tapiwa “Maselo” Jera for this upcoming production, looks forward to a reunion with fans on May 1 at Londoners Pub & Grill in Avondale, Harare.
“I am going to launch it on Workers Day (the 1st of May), and for me, it will be more than just a show; it will be a reunion with fans as we reconnect after years apart.
“I will do my best to ensure that I give fans real value for their money at this particular event,” she pointed out.
Queen Mashie, who has extensively toured Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UK, France and Norway, now wants to be Zimbabwe’s arts ambassador overseas.
“With all the years I have spent here in France, I can safely say I am a perfect person to be your arts and cultural ambassador.
“I have hosted fellow musicians like Hope Masike, who have toured Europe, and I will continue extending the same love to others.”
According to her biography, Queen Mashie is a proud Zimbabwean mbira player who began music at the age of four.
She turned professional in 2000 when she joined Andy Brown as a back vocalist, working with the late crooner’s outfit, The Storm, for several years. She decided to go solo and joined the Vintage Band with veteran guitarist Mudhara Timi Makaya as the lead singer.
Determined to move on, she recorded her debut album titled “Higher Heights” in 2006 before moving to Nairobi, Kenya, to pursue her musical career. She worked with Nyota Safi Band and later joined The Tutu Band as a lead vocalist and mbira players.
She was signed with Sound Africa and recorded her second album “KareKare” (Long Time Ago) in 2008.
Queen Mashie went on to collaborate with several artists from Zimbabwe and Kenya and released her third CD/DVD, “Queen Mashie Collaboration,” in 2009.
On this album, the song “Ulikuwa Wapi,” which featured MITI of Mashifta, hit number 1 on Nation TV charts.
In 2011, she recorded another album named “Mbijana Mbijana,” which also included the hit song “Ndodzungaira,” and founded the October Women’s Festival in Nairobi in 2013.
She also recorded the single track “Godo,” which is on her new album “Time,” launched in Harare in 2015.
Some major highlights of her career include performing at the Sauti Za Busara Festival in Tanzania with Afrodynamics in 2008.
She has performed in Mozambique, Senegal, Austria and Zimbabwe, as well as at HIFA 2014, Blankets and Wine, Women in Jazz, Thursday Night Choices, Afrosonido in Manchester/UK, and the October Women’s Festival, where she collaborated with Mia Von Lekow, Nyota Ndogo, Suzanna Owiyo, Monique Kabuye, and Susan Gogo.
In 2015, she held concerts in Zambia at Chitenge and Wine Festival in Lusaka. In 2016, she performed in Berlin at the Afro and Beyond Concert, Jazzsommer Berlin, and the Vive L’Afrique Festival, and in Switzerland at “La Scene,” Café le Voisins, and Le Cab Crozet, France. Queen Mashie’s music has been ranked among Africa’s icons such as Angelique Kidjo, Brenda Fassie, Miriam Makeba, and Zimbabwe’s Chiwoniso Maraire.
As she returns to her home soil in April, she will be armed with a new album recorded and produced by Zimbabweans – Wataffi and Maselo.
