One by one, over a dozen of Zimbabwe’s top cultural and entertainment icons have passed away in 2011. Just as the tears dried after one funeral, news broke of another death. In a reflection of what is now an everyday occurrence in Zimbabwean society, the artistic community gathered over and over again to say farewell to beloved ones.Here are some of those who died this year whom we remember for their contribution to Zimbabwe’s arts, entertainment and cultural sector.
Julius Sekai Chingono
Poet, Author
Died: January 2, 2011
The late Julius Chingono, who was born on a commercial farm in 1946, worked for most of his life on the mines. As a poet, he has had his work published in several anthologies of Shona poetry including Nhetembo, Mabvumira eNhetembo and Gwenyambira between 1968 and 1980. His only novel, Chipo Changu was published in 1978 and an award-winning play, Ruvimbo, was published in 1980. His poetry in English has also been published in several South African and Zimbabwean anthologies: Flags of Love (Mireza yerudo) (1983) and Flag of Rags (1996) and Intwasa Poetry (2008). He was 65.
Fanizani Akuda
Sculptor
Died: February 5, 2011 (Born: Nov 11, 1932)
The late veteran sculptor passed away at South Medical Hospital in Chitungwiza, after battling ill health for many years. Born in 1932, Akuda went on to become one of Zimbabwe’s first generation stone sculptors, striking his first stone with a chisel in the sixties and not stopping till he died this year. Akuda was renowned as a sculptor of worth due to his exceptional signature fashion work. He won global acclaim for his work and exhibited around the world, including in Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Cuba, Australia, The Netherlands, South Africa, USA, Malawi and Zimbabwe. He was 79 when he died.
Shingairai Chimuriwo-Tichawangana
Co-Founder of Zimbo Jam
Died: March 16, 2011 (Born July 6, 1980)
Shingie died at The Avenues Clinic on March 16, 2011 from injuries sustained the night before when a drunk driver rammed into her car at the corner of Enterprise and Ridgeway roads in Harare. She was the wife of Zimbo Jam founder, Fungai James Tichawangana and was a pillar of support for the whole team. She helped set up the admin structures of the business and was Zimbo Jam’s number one fan. She was also involved in capacity building work for women and young people through her full time work at Norwegian People’s Aid. She was 30 when she died.
Adam Chisvo
Musician
Died July 13, 2011
Adam Chisvo was a Mbira maestro who died after a struggle with sugar diabetes.The late musician worked with many artists during a long career, chief among them Oliver Mtukudzi, Chiwoniso Maraire, Willom Tight, Charles Summerfield and Busi Ncube. The artist contributed to various recording projects and participated in many far-reaching international touring experiences. He took part in recordings with Chiwoniso on her album Rebel Woman, Willom Tights Kuzangoma and Oliver Mutukudzi's Tsoka. Through his eleven track album Famba Pore Pore, Adam Chisvo came to the fore and showed that he was a musician in his own right. He was 44 when he died.
Novell Zwangendaba
Journalist, Fashion Designer
Died: July 16, 2011
Novell passed away after a short illness, just 2 days after the death of Adam Chisvo. He was a fashion designer and founded the Ethno Design Project in 2005. As a journalist he wrote for several publications, inclulding Sunday Mirror, AfroNewsWorld, SAPEM magazine, Open democracy and Daily News, focusing on arts and culture. He won the global Young Social Entrepreneurship Award for his fashion work and was shortlisted for the Innovator of the Year in 2008. He suddenly developed stomach complications and after diagnosis by medical staff he was put in line for an operation. It didn’t happen quickly enough as he died at the age of 32.
James ‘Jimmy Jimalo’ Chiyangwa
Businessman-cum-Music Promoter
Died: July 25, 2011
James Chiyangwa, brother to businessman-cum-politician Phillip and better known as Jimmy Jimalo was a popular Harare businessman and music promoter who despite his wealth had made the decision to continue living at his ghetto home in the Highfield community. Jimalo who owned a fleet of buses, nightclubs and several bottle stores around the country was the 7th born in a family of 14. He passed away after succumbing to cancer. He was 46 when he died.
Amelia David
Musician
Died: August 3, 2011
The talented teenage artist had just recently completed her debut album Amelion and had a few days before excitedly told friends that the project was complete. A promising star, Amelia was full of life and energy. She suddenly fell ill at home and was rushed to hospital where she later on passed away. She was 16 when she died.
Cephas ‘Muddy Face’ Mashakada
Musician
Died: August 23, 2011
Mashakada was one of Zimbabwe's most outstanding sungura artists who died after struggling with diabetes for many years resulting in a leg amputated a few years before his death was one of this year’s sad losses. Mashakada worked hand in hand with several artists such as Alick Macheso, Tongai Moyo and Hosiah Chipanga. The Motomuzhinji star had 15 albums to his name. He was 51 when he died.
Takunda Mafika
Musician
Died: October 12, 2011
Many referred to him as Taku. He was one of the most talented and fastest-rising mbira artsits who passed on after suffering from a stroke which resulted from a clot in his brain. The mbira genius was an innovative artist who toured places such as Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. He held various seminars and workshops under the North-South ASPNET UNESCO Programme and locally was a tireless teacher of the mbira. His students included Pauline Gundidza of M’afriq and Tererai Mugwadi among many others. He achieved fame with his song Love is Mostest/Chikuru Rudo. When Taku passed on he was 28.
Tongai Moyo
Musician
Died: October 15, 2011
The late sungura legend, who was part of the Big Five Family, the top 5 artists in Zimbabwe in terms of concert numbers, was a fierce competitor to Alick Macheso, Zimbabwe’s other sungura great. Despite his very public struggle with cancer and worsening health, fans were shell-shocked to learn of his death. Dhewa, as he was well known by his fans, died at St Anne's Hospital in Harare, after finally succumbing to his illness. Thousands thronged Mbizo stadium in Kwekwe to pay their last respects. His fans are now banking on his son Peter Moyo, who has assumed leadership of the band, to continue the legacy. He was 43 when he died.
Siphosenkosi Mkuhlani aka TBA
Music Producer
Died: October 30, 2011
He was Zimbabwe’s top urban grooves producer, also known as The Play Boy. He was based in South Africa and passed away after succumbing to injuries he sustained in a car crash as he was coming from the launch of his debut album at Chez Ntemba club in Pretoria, South Africa. TBA, who died together with his fiancée, Theresa Tafirenyika, will be remembered as one of the pioneering producers of Urban Grooves. His career began at Squad Studios in 2001, popular in those days for dropping projects like 2BG’s Searching for Love album. He was 28 when he died.
Martha Badza
Musician
Died November 13, 2011
She was the leading back-up vocalist for the late Sam Mtukudzi’s Ay Band and died after a sudden illness. The young singer was quoted as saying after Sam’s passing on, “It will be very difficult to do Sam’s song he had his style unique to him alone but we will try our best. The whole band will do amazing work in memory of Sam and Owen. Despite her efforts, the band fell apart within a few months. She was 30.
From Zimbo Jam by Anozivashe Shumba & Fungai Tichawangana
Julius Sekai ChingonoPoet, Author
Died: January 2, 2011
The late Julius Chingono, who was born on a commercial farm in 1946, worked for most of his life on the mines. As a poet, he has had his work published in several anthologies of Shona poetry including Nhetembo, Mabvumira eNhetembo and Gwenyambira between 1968 and 1980. His only novel, Chipo Changu was published in 1978 and an award-winning play, Ruvimbo, was published in 1980. His poetry in English has also been published in several South African and Zimbabwean anthologies: Flags of Love (Mireza yerudo) (1983) and Flag of Rags (1996) and Intwasa Poetry (2008). He was 65.
Fanizani AkudaSculptor
Died: February 5, 2011 (Born: Nov 11, 1932)
The late veteran sculptor passed away at South Medical Hospital in Chitungwiza, after battling ill health for many years. Born in 1932, Akuda went on to become one of Zimbabwe’s first generation stone sculptors, striking his first stone with a chisel in the sixties and not stopping till he died this year. Akuda was renowned as a sculptor of worth due to his exceptional signature fashion work. He won global acclaim for his work and exhibited around the world, including in Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Cuba, Australia, The Netherlands, South Africa, USA, Malawi and Zimbabwe. He was 79 when he died.
Shingairai Chimuriwo-TichawanganaCo-Founder of Zimbo Jam
Died: March 16, 2011 (Born July 6, 1980)
Shingie died at The Avenues Clinic on March 16, 2011 from injuries sustained the night before when a drunk driver rammed into her car at the corner of Enterprise and Ridgeway roads in Harare. She was the wife of Zimbo Jam founder, Fungai James Tichawangana and was a pillar of support for the whole team. She helped set up the admin structures of the business and was Zimbo Jam’s number one fan. She was also involved in capacity building work for women and young people through her full time work at Norwegian People’s Aid. She was 30 when she died.
Adam ChisvoMusician
Died July 13, 2011
Adam Chisvo was a Mbira maestro who died after a struggle with sugar diabetes.The late musician worked with many artists during a long career, chief among them Oliver Mtukudzi, Chiwoniso Maraire, Willom Tight, Charles Summerfield and Busi Ncube. The artist contributed to various recording projects and participated in many far-reaching international touring experiences. He took part in recordings with Chiwoniso on her album Rebel Woman, Willom Tights Kuzangoma and Oliver Mutukudzi's Tsoka. Through his eleven track album Famba Pore Pore, Adam Chisvo came to the fore and showed that he was a musician in his own right. He was 44 when he died.
Novell ZwangendabaJournalist, Fashion Designer
Died: July 16, 2011
Novell passed away after a short illness, just 2 days after the death of Adam Chisvo. He was a fashion designer and founded the Ethno Design Project in 2005. As a journalist he wrote for several publications, inclulding Sunday Mirror, AfroNewsWorld, SAPEM magazine, Open democracy and Daily News, focusing on arts and culture. He won the global Young Social Entrepreneurship Award for his fashion work and was shortlisted for the Innovator of the Year in 2008. He suddenly developed stomach complications and after diagnosis by medical staff he was put in line for an operation. It didn’t happen quickly enough as he died at the age of 32.
James ‘Jimmy Jimalo’ ChiyangwaBusinessman-cum-Music Promoter
Died: July 25, 2011
James Chiyangwa, brother to businessman-cum-politician Phillip and better known as Jimmy Jimalo was a popular Harare businessman and music promoter who despite his wealth had made the decision to continue living at his ghetto home in the Highfield community. Jimalo who owned a fleet of buses, nightclubs and several bottle stores around the country was the 7th born in a family of 14. He passed away after succumbing to cancer. He was 46 when he died.
Amelia DavidMusician
Died: August 3, 2011
The talented teenage artist had just recently completed her debut album Amelion and had a few days before excitedly told friends that the project was complete. A promising star, Amelia was full of life and energy. She suddenly fell ill at home and was rushed to hospital where she later on passed away. She was 16 when she died.
Cephas ‘Muddy Face’ MashakadaMusician
Died: August 23, 2011
Mashakada was one of Zimbabwe's most outstanding sungura artists who died after struggling with diabetes for many years resulting in a leg amputated a few years before his death was one of this year’s sad losses. Mashakada worked hand in hand with several artists such as Alick Macheso, Tongai Moyo and Hosiah Chipanga. The Motomuzhinji star had 15 albums to his name. He was 51 when he died.
Takunda MafikaMusician
Died: October 12, 2011
Many referred to him as Taku. He was one of the most talented and fastest-rising mbira artsits who passed on after suffering from a stroke which resulted from a clot in his brain. The mbira genius was an innovative artist who toured places such as Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. He held various seminars and workshops under the North-South ASPNET UNESCO Programme and locally was a tireless teacher of the mbira. His students included Pauline Gundidza of M’afriq and Tererai Mugwadi among many others. He achieved fame with his song Love is Mostest/Chikuru Rudo. When Taku passed on he was 28.
Tongai MoyoMusician
Died: October 15, 2011
The late sungura legend, who was part of the Big Five Family, the top 5 artists in Zimbabwe in terms of concert numbers, was a fierce competitor to Alick Macheso, Zimbabwe’s other sungura great. Despite his very public struggle with cancer and worsening health, fans were shell-shocked to learn of his death. Dhewa, as he was well known by his fans, died at St Anne's Hospital in Harare, after finally succumbing to his illness. Thousands thronged Mbizo stadium in Kwekwe to pay their last respects. His fans are now banking on his son Peter Moyo, who has assumed leadership of the band, to continue the legacy. He was 43 when he died.
Siphosenkosi Mkuhlani aka TBAMusic Producer
Died: October 30, 2011
He was Zimbabwe’s top urban grooves producer, also known as The Play Boy. He was based in South Africa and passed away after succumbing to injuries he sustained in a car crash as he was coming from the launch of his debut album at Chez Ntemba club in Pretoria, South Africa. TBA, who died together with his fiancée, Theresa Tafirenyika, will be remembered as one of the pioneering producers of Urban Grooves. His career began at Squad Studios in 2001, popular in those days for dropping projects like 2BG’s Searching for Love album. He was 28 when he died.
Martha BadzaMusician
Died November 13, 2011
She was the leading back-up vocalist for the late Sam Mtukudzi’s Ay Band and died after a sudden illness. The young singer was quoted as saying after Sam’s passing on, “It will be very difficult to do Sam’s song he had his style unique to him alone but we will try our best. The whole band will do amazing work in memory of Sam and Owen. Despite her efforts, the band fell apart within a few months. She was 30.
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From Zimbo Jam by Anozivashe Shumba & Fungai Tichawangana
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