Acting President Constantino Chiwenga has granted a state-assisted funeral for the late Mbira Queen Mbuya Stella Chiweshe.
Stella Rambisai Chiweshe, popularly known as Mbuya Chiweshe succumbed to cancer of the brain on Friday morning at her Kuwadzana home in Harare.
She was 77.
“Acting President Chiwenga, after consultation with President Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced that government has granted the late music icon and Mbira Dzevadzimu player Mbuya Stella Rambisai Chiweshe, a state-assisted funeral. This means all the costs related to her interment will be assumed by the state,” read the statement.
“His excellency the President who is on leave and the acting president extend their heartfelt and deepest condolences to the entire Chiweshe and Reich families, on this, saddest loss.
“The late musical icon epitomised Zimbabwe’s cultural excellence through the Mbira Dzevadzimu genre, which she successfully took to the international stage.”
Condolence messages for the late mbira icon flooded the internet.
Exiled former minister famed for introducing the famous 70% local content on radio, Jonathan Moyo said Chiweshe’s music was a foundational legacy of local content.
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“Sad that the inimitable Mbuya Stella Chiweshe is no more,” tweeted the former Information minister.
“Her rich body of mbira music is a foundational legacy of local content for all generations.
“May her memory be a blessing to her family and all who knew her, and may her soul forever dwell in peace in the House of the Lord.”
SAPES Trust director Ibbo Mandaza also tweeted: “RIP Stella Chiweshe! Hama yedu, our icon! Cherishing what turns out now to have been your farewell at Pan Afrika on Africa Day, May 25, 2021.”
Germany-based musician AWA also poured her heart out on Mbuya Chiweshe’s death.
“This was one of the worst moments in my life,” she said.
“Mama Stella Chiweshe has passed away, I am so heartbroken.
“My condolences to the Chiweshe family, friends and fans all over the world!”
Canada-based and Zimbabwe-born musician Aura Ariko described the late Mbuya Stella Chiweshe as a fountain of traditional culture.
“When I think of you I think of the importance of cultural preservation,” Ariko said.
“Thank you for breaking barriers for women in music and more specifically in mbira.
“You represented Zimbabwean culture so well and unashamedly.
“May those of us in the art space be inspired to create art with intention, boldly and loudly representing our culture!”
