The late mbira music icon <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Stella_Chiweshe">Mbuya Stella Rambisai Chiweshe</a> is set to be buried at Masembura village in Chiweshe, on Tuesday, 24 January 2023.
Stakeholders in the arts sector said Chiweshe deserved national heroine status but the government has instead granted her a State-assisted funeral.
In a statement issued on 21 January 2023, Misheck Sibanda, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, said:
<blockquote>
The Acting President, Dr Constantino Dominic Guveya Nyikadzino Chiwenga, after consultation with His Excellency President, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, has announced that Government has granted the late music icon and Mbira Dzavadzimu player, Mbuya Stella Rambisai Chiweshe, a state-assisted funeral.
This means all the costs related to her interment will be assumed by the state.
His Excellency the President, who is on leave, and the Acting President extend their deepest, heartfelt condolences to the entire Chiweshe and Reich families on this, their saddest loss.
The late musical icon epitomised Zimbabwe’s cultural excellence through the Mbira Dzavadzimu genre which she successfully took to the international stage.
May her soul rest in eternal peace.
</blockquote>
She was born Stella Rambisai Nekati Chiweshe on 8 July 1946 in Mujumi Village, Mhondoro, Zimbabwe.
Chiweshe succumbed to brain cancer at her Kuwadzana home in Harare on Friday.
She was married to Peter Reich, a German national at the time of her death. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/life-amp-style/article/200006489/mbuya-chiweshe-burial-tomorrow">NewsDay</a>

Pindula News

Stella Chiweshe To Be Buried In Chiweshe On 24 January

Jenaguru Arts Centre founder and musician Clive Malunga says the late mbira music queen, Stella Rambisai Chiweshe, popularly known as Mbuya Chiweshe, should be accorded national hero status for her contribution to the arts industry.
Malunga described Chiweshe as Zimbabwe’s global music ambassador who popularised mbira, marimba, hosho nengoma. He said:
<blockquote>
Mbuya Chiweshe was the Zimbabwe music ambassador and world-class artiste, who popularised mbira, marimba, hosho nengoma across the globe.
One of Jenaguru Music Festival’s founding members, Mbuya Chiweshe was a strong pillar for women musicians in Zimbabwe, who represented women at most major events for artists.
In appreciation of her prowess in music, Mbuya Chiweshe was crowned queen of mbira music at Gwanzura Stadium in Highfield, Harare, and was honoured with a 21-carat gold star.
She was also to be conferred with an honorary degree in 2002 by the University of Zimbabwe through a Jenaguru Arts Centre initiative.
The queen of mbira music deserves national hero status, as she was a patriotic cadre of Zimbabwe. May her soul rest in peace.
</blockquote>
Chiweshe was born on 8 July 1946 in Mujumi Village in Mhondoro.
She succumbed to cancer of the brain on 20 January 2023 at her Kuwadzana home in Harare. She was 77.
Mourners were gathered at Mukwesha Homestead in Chinyika, Goromonzi, Mashonaland East province. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200006401/calls-for-hero-status-for-mbira-queen-mbuya-chiweshe">NewsDay</a>

Stella Chiweshe Deserves National Hero Status, Says Clive Malunga

The Zimbabwean government has accorded a state-assisted funeral to Mbuya Stella Chiweshe, a mbira musician who <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/award-winning-mbira-musician-mbuya-stella-chiweshe-dies/">died on Friday, 20 January 2023</a>. In a statement seen by Pindula News, Dr Misheck Sibanda, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet. said:  
<blockquote>
<h2>GOVERNMENT GRANTS STATE-ASSISTED FUNERAL TO MBUYA STELLA RAMBISAI NEKATI CHIWESHE REICH</h2>
The Acting President, Dr Constantino Dominic Guveya Nyikadzino Chiwenga, after consultation with His Excellency President, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, has announced that Government has granted the late music icon and Mbira Dzavadzimu player, Mbuya Stella Rambisai Chiweshe, a state-assisted funeral. This means all the costs related to her interment will be assumed by the state. His Excellency the President, who is on leave, and the Acting President extend their deepest, heartfelt condolences to the entire Chiweshe and Reich families on this, their saddest loss. The late musical icon epitomised Zimbabwe’s cultural excellence through the Mbira Dzavadzimu genre which she successfully took to the international stage. May her soul rest in eternal peace.
</blockquote>
She was born Stella Rambisai Nekati Chiweshe on 8 July 1946 in Mujumi Village, Mhondoro, Zimbabwe.
Mbuya Chiweshe was married to Peter Reich, a German national.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

FULL TEXT: Govt Grants State-assisted Funeral To Mbuya Chiweshe

Award-winning Mbira musician <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Stella_Chiweshe">Mbuya Stella Chiweshe</a> has died.
Relatives have confirmed that she passed away this morning at her Kuwadzana home in Harare, according to ZBC News.
The publication cites a close relative, Rector Kandemiviri as saying:
<blockquote>
She wasn’t feeling much well of late, coupled with age. The last time she came kumusha she was saying her days are almost up and as such, she needed to settle back home.
</blockquote>
She was born Stella Rambisai Nekati Chiweshe on 8 July 1946 in Mujumi Village, Mhondoro, Zimbabwe.
She was well-known throughout the world for her singing and playing mbira dzavadzimu, a Zimbabwean traditional instrument.
Mbuya Chiweshe, who is arguably the first pioneer of Chimurenga music, learned to play mbira from 1966 to 1969 when even fewer females played the instrument.
She took part in the WOMAD festival and gave several performances throughout Germany (1994 in the United States, 1995 in Australia, and 2006 in Spain).
In 2004 she toured England with her daughter.
Mbuya Chiweshe was married to Peter Reich, a German national.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

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