Stella Chiweshe
Stella Chiweshe | |
---|---|
Born | Stella Rambisai Chiweshe 8 July 1946 |
Died | 20 January 2023 Harare, Zimbabwe | (aged 76)
Nationality | Zimbabwean |
Spouse | Peter Reich[1] |
Children | Virginia Mukwesha Charity Mapuranga nee Mkwesha |
Website | www |
Stella Chiweshe (also Stella Rambisai Chiweshe, Stella Rambisai Chiweshe Nekati, Mbuya Stella Chiweshe, or Stella Nekati Chiweshe; 8 July 1946 – 20 January 2023) was a Zimbabwean musician. She was known internationally for her singing and playing of the
Biography
Chiweshe was born on 8 July 1946 in Mujumi Village in Mhondoro.[3] She learned to play the mbira from 1966 to 1969, at a time when there were social taboos against women playing the instrument,[4][5] as well as colonial British prohibitions on cultural activities.[6][7] She was taught by her great-uncle, after being refused by many teachers.[8] During this period Chiweshe also performed forbidden Shona spiritual ceremonies.[6]
During the 1970s her music supported nationalist and women's rights causes.[9] Her career as a recording artist began in 1974 with the release of the single 'Kasahwa' (Teal Records).[10][11] In 1981 she joined the National Dance Company of Zimbabwe, playing the mbira, and toured with them internationally.[10] During the 1980s, to continue a revitalisation of mbira music, Chiweshe amplified her mbira and introduced electric instruments to her supporting band.[12][13][14] In 1985 she formed her first band The Earthquake.[15] In 1988 Chiweshe recorded two black liberationist songs, 'Chimurenga' and 'NeHondo'.[16] She also helped to form the Zimbabwe Musicians Union.[10] During this period she also played the titular role in the film Ambuya Nehanda, which portrayed the life of Mbuya Nehanda, an anti-colonial resistance leader.[8]
Chiweshe performed numerous times in Germany and also participated in the WOMAD festival (1994 in the United States, 1995 in Australia, and 2006 in Spain). In 2004 she toured England with her daughter.[1] She was known for her spiritual presence on stage, and for often taking snuff while performing.[15]
Chiweshe died of
On 21 January 2023 the government of Zimbabwe offered financial support for her funeral.[20]
Awards
- Billboard Music Award (1993)[10]
- Zimbabwe Music Silver Jubilee Awards – Female Most Outstanding Contribution to the Music Industry of the Past 25 Years (2005)[11]
- Zimbabwe Music Silver Jubilee Awards – Best Mbira Artiste of the Past 25 Years (2005)[11]
- National Arts Merit Award (2006)[3]
- National Arts Merit Award Lifetime Achievement Award (2020)[3]
- National Arts Merit Award Legends Awards (2021)[3]
Legacy
Chiweshe is considered a ground-breaking Zimbabwean musician, not just for her skills, but for the path for women mbira-players that she forged.[4][21] She was also admired for the humanism in her music.[22]
During her career Chiweshe was criticised by some for combining sacred and commercial music.[23] Her work was sampled by many artists, including The New Vets, a Zimbabwean activist rap group, who campaigned for land reform using a track Chiweshe sang on.[24]
Chiweshe featured in Panashe Chigumadzi's 2018 work These Bones Will Rise Again.[25]
Discography
- Ambuya? (1987, reissued 2021)[26]
- Ndizvozvo (Piranha, 1988)[27]
- Chisi (1989)[27]
- Kumusha (1990)[27]
- Shungu (1994)[15]
- Healing Tree: Best of Stella Chiweshe (1998)[28]
- Talking Mbira: Spirits of Liberation (2002)[29][30]
- Double Check (2006)[31]
- Ndondopetera (2007)[32][27]
- Chakandiwana – Stella Chiweshe & Michele Longo" (2014)[33]
- Kasahwa: Early Singles (2018)[34]
Contributing artist
See also
References
- ^ a b c Herald, The. "Mbuya Stella Chiweshe dies". The Herald. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ "Stella Chiweshe obituary". the Guardian. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Zimbabwe, New (20 January 2023). "Updated: Mbuya Stella Chiweshe dies". NewZimbabwe.com. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ ISBN 978-3-030-97884-6.
- ISBN 978-1-4438-8856-1.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-317-18420-1.
- ^ Offenhäußer, Dieter, Walther Ch Zimmerli, and Marie-Theres Albert. "World heritage and cultural diversity." UNESCO. 12 (2010): 05–13.
- ^ a b Hickson, Jim. "Stella Chiweshe: "I ignored men, I ignored women, I ignored the government, I ignored the church, because I wanted to survive. That's how I started to play" , she was influenced by the emerging feminist attitudes of the time that purported that women were not allowed to play mbira music. Shona tradition is littered with history of female heroines & other playing mbira during bird's and pungwes". Songlines. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-351-95053-4.
- ^ JSTOR 41699581.
- ^ a b c "Celebrating International Women's Day | Celebrating Being Zimbabwean". Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ ISBN 978-91-7106-496-7.
- ISBN 978-0-226-62871-4.
- ISBN 978-0-226-04379-1.
- ^ S2CID 143721457.
- ISBN 978-0-226-81696-8.
- ISBN 978-91-7106-494-3.
- ^ https://zambianobserver.com/zimbabwe-mbira-legend-mbuya-stella-chiweshe-dies/
- ISBN 978-91-7106-496-7.
- ^ Herald, The. "Govt grants state-assisted funeral to Mbuya Stella Chiweshe". The Herald. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ Makore, Susan. "Women in music: Some notes on Zimbabwe." Sounds of change: Social and political features of music in Africa (2004): 47–56.
- ISBN 978-0-8264-7208-3.
- ISBN 978-1-85828-635-8.
- ISBN 978-1-136-83028-0.
- ISBN 978-1-9996833-1-3.
- ^ "Ambuya!'s back baby!". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d Romero, Angel (6 December 2017). "Artist profiles: Stella Chiweshe | World Music Central". Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ Margasak, Peter (30 January 2003). "Stella Chiweshe". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "Zimbabwean Albums – The Essential 10". Songlines. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "Stella Chiweshe – Double Check". rootsworld.com. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ Berlin, Digital in (2 April 2017). "Stella Chiweshe". Digital in Berlin. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "Stella Chiweshe". Music in Africa. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ Dalton, Stephen (11 October 2018). "Stella Chiweshe – Kasahwa: Early Singles". UNCUT. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ McKinney, Raymond. "The Rough Guide to the Music of Zimbabwe". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
External links
- Official website
- Stella Chiweshe at AllMusic
- Stella Chiweshe discography at Discogs
- Stella Chiweshe at IMDb
- Lengthy feature about Stella Chiweshe at Fly
- "Stella Chiweshe: Seeking the sound of liberation"—interview by Jennifer Byrne, from RootsWorld
Listening
- Stella Chiweshe, Live in Studio 4A from National Public Radio's Weekend Edition, Sunday 19 October 2003