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Entertainment Editor
THE late Chiwoniso Maraire’s backing group, Vibe Culture, has a daunting assignment of carrying on the dream of their departed leader.
Vibe Culture staged a show at Book Café on Friday – their fourth gig since the death of the talented mbira songstress in July – as part of a revival mission aimed at narrowing the gap left by Sister Chi, as Chiwoniso was affectionately known.
Fans came to support the group with hope and anticipation that Chiwoniso’s dream might live beyond her grave.
The group performed most of the late musician’s songs under the lead voice of Rumbidzai Tawaziwa who tried her best to make the tracks sound original.
All the group members that worked with Chiwoniso are still with Vibe Culture.
Philip Vhareta still plays mbira dzeva- dzimu with his well-known passion while Jacob Mafulemi is still the versatile instrumentalist comfortably interchanging mbira with the drum.
Martha Thom’s dancing skills are still refreshing and Silas Kamutikaoma continues to beat the drums with amazing energy.
Despite the group’s apparent passion to keep Chiwoniso’s spirit alive on stage, the gap seems too big to fill. The group indeed has a tough task to keep Chiwoniso’s fans entertained.
The silky voice, catchy smile and unique lead mbira sound that separated Vibe Culture from other mbira ensembles are no more.
Also gone is an embodiment of love that kept the group intact for many years, leading the outfit to successful international tours.
The group members are hopeful that, one day, Chiwoniso’s daughters Chengeto and Chiedza, who are studying in the United States, will come and fit in their mother’s shoes.
“Chiedza is a good mbira player and Chengeto is a talented vocalist. Chiedza took her mother’s mbira instrument with her and we hope she is perfecting her skills,” said Vibe Culture manager Cosmas Zamangwe.
The manager said the group was in agreement that the return of Chiwoniso’s daughters or one of them would rescue the band.
And the group members miss so much about their leader.
“She had a unique way of inspiring us before going on stage and we will always miss that. We would spend the whole day with her having fun but she was different when we were about to go on the stage. We joined hands and prayed and she would encourage us in a big way.
“We still pray before we go on stage but we still miss the inspiration, which was her greatest anointing.”
Online Reporter