Chiwoniso Maraire in Masvingo

Her voice is beautiful; she has this ability of shifting its tempo. I am sure there is a musical term to it but that’s the best I could come up with. What do I mean; she will start off low and take it high, one minute she will be soft and the next minute she has gone hoarse. I loved her voice. 

Her songs on the other hand would captivate me for the first few minutes then because of their repetitiveness my thought would wonder, but the wondering thoughts could not escape her voice, I would lose track of the lyrics but her voice remained the soothing back ground music in my thoughts. 

Chiwoniso and the Mbira

I enjoyed her performance. Just by looking at her playing her mbira instrument, with eyes closed and a shaking head one can tell that she is passionate about her music. She has a brilliant command of her voice (I am sure by now you appreciate how much I loved her voice).She didn’t dance much but she demonstrated once or twice that she can hold her own on the dance floor. For dancing she had a lady dancer whose hips certainly don’t lie, she displayed some African dances par excellence.  Much to the approval of many men… 

What I didn’t understand was the need for her to be intoxicated. I wont judge her peut etre her intoxication enhances her performances? But doesn’t it hinder her reputation? I don’t know I won’t judge… (or have I already judged)

While she was singing I found myself thinking:

1.       Her speaking accent and her singing accent are not the same, they are total opposites. Which then becomes Chiwoniso Maraire? The lady with the perfect British accent or the performer with the husky Shona accent?

2.       Does she have a husband/ boyfriend?

3.       What does she do when she isn’t busy being Chiwoniso on stage?

4.       Are her dreadlocks a fashion statement or a cultural statement? Four out of six of her band members had dreadlocks…

The stage was shared with an upcoming band known as Chikwata 263, three men, two guitars and a set of drums. I prematurely misjudged them; my first thought was “what would a white lead vocalist know about Afro Jazz?” But I stood corrected, their genre is known as “Mbira Punk Rock” and their performance was quite good. The aforementioned white lead vocalist sang truly fluent Shona and was able to demonstrate some African dance moves of his own. Quite impressive.

Chikwata 263 lead singer

Not that it is important but one of the Chikwata 263 band members bears a striking resemblance to Forester Whitaker and this is including the eye…

that's Forest not the singer guy, but looking at one is just like looking at the other

If I had more time I would get into the issue of the two hookers I spotted, the incorrigible man who thought I would be impressed by his car, the drunken man who chose to relieve himself right next to me, the talkative doctor, the government agent and the attraction between our white sisters and our dreadlocked brothers….if only I had more time…