Despite her presence in people’s living rooms for decades, providing satire through Mhuri Yekwa Mukadota (Mukadota Family), a popular sitcom she starred with Safirio Madzikatire on national TV, Susan “Mai Rwizi” Chenjerai revealed that she “regretted” her time in the arts.
The actress, whom the nation celebrated for her role as Mai Rwizi died at the age of 83 last week and was laid to rest in Harare on Friday.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa accorded Mai Rwizi a state-assisted funeral before she was later granted provincial hero status at the 11th hour on Friday which saw her being interred at Warren Hills.
Several government officials, politicians and fellow artists attended the burial.
In Mhuri Yekwa Mukadota, Mai Rwizi played a calm, respectful wife to a notorious Mukadota, played by Madzikatire.
Mukadota would wreak havoc in the community and still get away with it through the support he received from his “wife”.
Mai Rwizi’s acting career began in 1951 as a member of the Bantu Actors, a group of artistes from Mbare that started in 1936.
She later joined the Marandellas Bush Babies in 1958.
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Madzikatire approached Chenjerai and persuaded her to join his band in 1969, after listening to her singing in the Majubeki area of Mbare.
They released several hit songs before coming up with scripts for the Mukadota Family series, which marked the beginning of her acting journey.
They later ventured into acting together and produced the classic Mhuri Yekwa Mukadota.
In an exclusive interview with Standard Style two years ago at her Mbare home, Chenjerai said she regretted her time during the arts.
“Life in the acting and music industry was scary. If I am to give a testimony of my life you will know that God surely loves me and he took me out of darkness and I will never go back there,” she said.
“I am a new creation now and I thank God that I quit on time. By now, maybe I would have died earlier with others.”
Despite a successful 20-year career filling arenas with Madzikatire’s band and producing a hit sitcom, Chenjerai saw no financial rewards from her artistic endeavours.
“We used to fill up venues, but I had nothing to show from my arts career yet my fellow artists have houses and cars whilst I own nothing,” she said.
“Madzikatire grew up here (Mukadota), but later relocated to Cranborne, yet some of us didn't upgrade our lifestyles.
“All the benefits of the music and acting we made together were channelled to his family. I didn’t get anything.
“I was left without even a car while his children own houses and the house I live in now is my husband’s,” she said.
June 24, 1984 was the turning point in Mai Rwizi’s life and career.
That’s the day she was called for ministry and had to quit the arts industry and got a job at OK Supermarket.
“I received a voice on that day. It was scary when I heard the voice talk to me and the person in me. It was an experience that I had never had before as I was used to my way of life that revolved around acting and music. By July I was free from everything, my daily job and acting. I then took up ministering with my husband who was a pastor,” she said.
Chenjerai was more than an actress and musician.
She revealed that she was behind the hit song KwaHunyani, which was later performed by Madzikatire and Katarina.
Speaking during a memorial service held in Harare, permanent secretary for Sports, Reaction, Arts and Culture, Nicholas Moyo hailed Chenjerai’s contribution in the arts sector.
“As players in the arts sector, we celebrate that her name has been written among legends,” he said.
Mai Rwizi’s daughter, Daisy, who is also an actress said she will keep the legacy of her mother alive.
“Our mother was a great person who made a name for herself as an actress and musician. She has left behind a legacy that we hope to keep alive,” she said.
“I am an actress and musician, who also learnt the ropes from our mother.
“I will make sure that she is not forgotten by carrying on with the good work she was doing,” said Daisy.
"She also taught us to pray and I will make sure that her dream of spreading the word of God continues.”
Her role in the arts and its development was recognised through a Nama legends award bestowed on her, a lifetime achievement.
Those that had the privilege of sitting in their living rooms on Mondays at 7:30pm watching Mhuri Yekwa Mukadota, can testify that in the sitcom Mai Rwizi was a calm and composed mother, so was she in real life.
It is disheartening to see an iconic actress like Mai Rwizi being neglected by the government when she was alive, but only to appear with all sorts of praises after her death.
Mai Rwizi remains a luminary even in death. May her sould rest in peace!
