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Langalakhe Mabena
(Obituary)
Can you imagine having to present a play on stage in front of the audience with the main thespian being a “dead character” — one you cannot see in the flesh but his script lines echoed through a voiceover from backstage?
Students who attended the Arts in Education Festival during the course of the week had to watch two plays — King Lobengula (Colonisation of Zimbabwe) and Ihloka — The Ndebele Uprising Response to White Occupation, without the major character King Lobengula.
The character of Lobengula in both plays was supposed to be played by Ishmael “Litshe” Mavhingi who untimely died on September 22, 2024, due to “a severe headache.”
“Litshe was a “king” of improvising! He respected the script. His quality on stage was unmatched. Every director preferred working with him because one would easily give him an idea and direction of a scene and he would improvise, and the snippet would be just perfect,” recalls Thabani Hillary Moyo who is the co-founder of the Arts in Education Festival.
Moyo — a teacher and playwright who has worked with the late Mavhingi on numerous plays including Bayethe Nkosi said, “Despite his demise a few days into the festival, Umkhathi Theatre Works had to improvise and go on with these two plays in honour of Mavhingi.
“Initially, in respect, we had planned not to present these plays as our main character was no more. But Matesu Dube (Umkhathi director) insisted that we improvise and go on and present the works and King Lobengula’s lines were presented through a voice-over by someone behind the stage. This was all done in honour of the legend Litshe and also not to short-change those in attendance to watch the play.
“He played Lobengula in a number of my plays because I wrote these plays and that particular character (King Lobengula) with him in mind. It’s going to be hard for us to replace him because his posture and body language were similar to what we hear of Lobengula,” said Moyo.
Litshe was a devoted artiste who had a passion for touring the world, representing rich Zimbabwean stories to the globe.
His professional career can be traced back to the early 2000s as part of the now defunct Sadalala Majekeje — a theatre and dance group which was led by Clever Chimwanza.
When the group collapsed, the thespian would then join Umkhathi Theatre Works under the wings of the founder and director of the group Dube. This is when arts doyen Saimon Mambazo Phiri got a chance to closely keep an eye on Litshe and his talent charmed him.
“I knew Litshe back then as he was part of Sadalala Majekeje but he got my attention when he joined Umkhathi. He was a stellar performer, a young man with dreams to tour the world, nothing else.
“When we (Siyaya) were preparing a project called Thatha which was meant to be exported to Europe, I created a character particularly for Litshe and I called him for auditions just like anyone else. But, back in my mind I knew it was his role.
“He killed the character and immediately joined the crew which was selected to tour including the likes of Makhula and the late Tawanda “MaPecca” Moyo. When I brought him closer, I then started appreciating his talent because that’s when I realised that he can do anything that is required of him, be it singing, dancing and acting.
“He rose through the ranks fast as he became one of the major characters on Zambezi Express. I remember we had an interview with The Telegraph in London, they requested to interview Ishmael because of his stellar talent on stage. He was exceptional like that.
“He managed to handle the interview and the pressure that comes with publicity, and that revealed his mature nature. Even the late South African arts veteran Mbongeni Ngema and Mncedisi Shabangu saw a lot in Litshe such that they said we don’t deserve him,” said Mambazo.
The script of Bulawayo celebrating their own creatives after their death is becoming topical. Litshe could have been celebrated and given his flowers while he was still alive to smell them, some people have said.
The city failed him. Even arts doyen Raisedon Baya feels so. Baya, who worked with the late creative on different productions like Ihlazo, Amacala, Mlamu Wami and Usendo, said Litshe was a “corner stone” of the Bulawayo arts industry.
“Ishmael was a guy who served the local arts industry with dignity and his passing away is untimely to all of us. His mood was jovial and always energetic. The sad news of his death got me shattered because the last day I saw him (Saturday) he was healthy and in good spirits,” said Baya.
“Litshe was a very unique gem. This is a man who could sing, dance, and be a lead actor and even a supporting thespian. I understand he has two if not three awards but that was not enough. As a city we failed him big time because this guy was always there to provide entertainment to the people of Bulawayo whether there was money or not. It’s sad that we will start talking good of him after his death, something we could have achieved by giving him his flowers when there was still time to smell them,” said Baya.
Fellow artiste and legislator Desire “Moyoxide” Moyo bid farewell to Litshe describing him as a selfless performer who gave everything to the arts fraternity.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the untimely passing of our dear friend, son-in-law, colleague, and a giant in the performing arts, Ishmael “Stone” Litshe Muvhingi. His talent, energy, and larger-than-life presence touched so many lives, leaving an indelible mark on everyone he encountered.
“Stone’s passion for the arts was not just a profession, it was his life’s calling. His extroverted nature brought joy, creativity, and light into every room he entered, making him a force to be reckoned with in the world of performing arts. His legacy will continue to inspire many.
“Our hearts go out to his family during this unimaginably difficult time. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. May Stone’s soul rest in eternal peace, and may his memory continue to shine brightly in our hearts,” said Moyoxide.
Poetess Sthandazile Dube also known as Um’Africakazi said she cherished the time she spent with Litshe, be it on stage and in person.
“I am deeply sad and heartbroken by the passing on of Samanyanga. I have a lot of stories to tell about him, especially on him being my on-screen husband in a number of productions including radio plays, with the notable one being Ezako Mkhakha.
“Even on Amanxeba we featured on the production as husband and wife – this shows how much I was attached to this guy. We have lost a selfless artiste who was very talented. He was one of the senior guys in Bulawayo in terms of arts and he groomed a lot of young aspiring thespians and guided them accordingly. His work and contribution to the industry will forever be missed and celebrated,” said Um’Africakazi.
Muvingi’s artistic journey began in 1994. A decade later, he embarked on his first international tour with Umkhathi, attending the Aberdeen International Youth Festival in Scotland.
In 2008, he toured with Siyaya Arts, spending nine years with the group and performing across Europe and Asia. In 2016, Muvingi formed the group “A Band with No Name” and later pursued a solo career, releasing the album Mix Masala” in 2022.
He was a recipient of the National Arts Merit Awards and the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards. Mourners are gathered at 3011 Emakhandeni near Mawunga shops. Dube said Matesu will be buried on Saturday.
Sidumisile Mabena