TRIBUTE TO A REBEL WOMAN :CHIONESO MARAIRE Follow our WhatsApp Channel for more updates https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vai0FQJ11ulJHRRO3r0l *Chioneso Maraire the Ancient voice* Last week the 24th of July marked the 11th anniversary of the passing on of the incredible and amazing songstress, one of the country's best-known exponents of the mbira, Chiwoniso Chaapocho Maraire. Chiwoniso, born in Olympia, Washington, U.S. on March 5, 1976, was the daughter of celebrated Zimbabwean mbira player and teacher, Dumisani Maraire and Linda Nemarundwe Maraire, known as "Mai Chi", she was a singer as well. Chi, Chiwo, Sister Chi as she is affectionately known, was raised in very musical and deeply traditional family. She was a child prodigy in her day, being exposed to music from a very tender age. By age 4 she was able to play mbira. In 1986, when she was 10, she was part of the group Nyunga Nyunga Mbira and she did the lead vocals for the title track of her father's album called "Tichazomuona". Upon her return to Zimbabwe at age 15 in 1991, she joined with Herbert Schwamborn (Prince Qwela)now Metaphysics, Tony Chihota (Chief), and Keith Farquharson and formed Zimbabwe's pioneering hip hop group called "A Peace of Ebony". In 1995 at 19, Chi was introduced to the late great lead guitarist and maverick Andy Brown (who later became her husband) by Keith Farquharson who had worked with both of them in previous groups Ilanga and A Peace of Ebony. On joining Andy's group The Storm, Chi immediately formed a very unique combination with him. The way the two's vocals blended was magical and the way his guitar and her mbira complimented each other was a match made in another world. The tracks "Tongogara" , "Mawere Kongonya" and "Kure Kure" bears testimony to this fact. 25 years ago, In 1998 at only 22 and whilst still part of The Storm, Chiwoniso gave us her debut album a ground-breaking record titled "Ancient Voices" to much critical acclaim, it is what I would describe as a perfect album. One of the greatest bodies of work ever produced in Zimbabwe. What else do you expect when you get Maraire on lead vocals and mbira, Mwendikanyi Chibindi on backing vocals and percussion, Brown on guitar, Farquharson on keyboards and production, Adam Chisvo on congas and percussion, Ian Hillman on bass guitar, Steve Dyer on Brass and Sam Mataure on drums? Her version of the traditional folklore song Nhemamusasa remains the best for me to date, it's enchanting. Ancient Voices is a clear example of how modern sounds can be fused with our traditional sounds. Other tracks on the album include; "Mai", "Ancient Voices", "Tamari", "Wandirasa", "Look To The Spirit", "Madame 20 Cents", "Iwai Nesu", "The Way Of Life", "Everyone's Child" (Soundtrack to Tsitsi Dangarembga's 1996 movie by the same name). Ancient Voices achieved international acclaim, In 1999, Radio France awarded Maraire the Decouverte Afrique for Ancient Voices. That same year, she was also nominated for Best Female Vocals for the Kora All-Africa Music Awards. Ancient Voices entered the World Music Charts in Europe three times. 1999 she also fronted Andy Brown's band The Storm at MASA festival in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, where she won the UNESCO Price for Arts. In 2001, she left The Storm, to pursue a solo career. Divorce robbed us of an unrivaled collaboration. The two had two children, Chengeto and Chiedza (now also late). That same year, she formed her own group and called it Vibe Culture made up of some former members of The Storm, and continued performing both locally and internationally. In 2004, she released her second album called Timeless with The Collaboration: Hupenyu Kumusha/Life at Home/Impilo Ekhaya. Volume 1 coming in 2006. She released her last album Rebel Woman in 2008. Some of my other favorite songs from her included "Vakuru Vanorapa", "Rebel Woman" and her rendition of Thomas Mapfumo's "Zvichapera" released posthumously in 2015. Chiwoniso played at many festivals and concerts around the world and was a permanent feature at the now defunct Book Cafe in Harare, a place which was a cultural hub that gave birth to many of Zimbabwe's creatives. She also collaborated with various artists from across the globe and between years 2001 and 2004, she was a member of the multinational all-women band Women's Voice, whose original members hailed from Algeria, Israel, Tanzania, USA and Zimbabwe. In 2013, at age 37, Chiwoniso Chaapocho Maraire died at Chitungwiza's SouthMed hospital. Chiwoniso would have lived on to become one of Zimbabwe's celebrated cultural and musical exports in the mould of Mbuya Stella Chiweshe and Oliver Mtukudzi. But then death, death cruelly robbed us of a musical ambassador. Chiwoniso defied the odds when she picked up the mbira, an instrument which was reserved traditionally only for men. She indubitably revolutionized the nyunga nyunga and her music influenced a whole generation of young female mbira players who have followed in her footsteps and imitate her on the stage. Chi might have left us in body, but her spirit lives on in her music. #no CULTURE NO FUTURE NB:*MBIRA MUSIC IS OUR INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE LET'S EMBRACE OUR TRADITIONAL MUSIC* Follow us on:- *FACEBOOK* *@Zimbabwe Intangible Cultural Heritage* https://www.facebook.com/share/17zXZ2WNmG/?mibextid=wwXIfr *INSTAGRAM* @ *ZICH TV MEDIA* https://www.instagram.com/zichtvmedia/profilecard/?igsh=d3N3ZmlkbTZ4a3E= *TIKTOK* *@ zichtvmedia* https://www.tiktok.com/@zichtvmedia?_t=ZG-8srTiO9lFYH&_r=1 *YOUTUBE* *@ ZICH TV* https://youtube.com/@zichtvmedia?feature=shared 🔄🔄🔄Share our Articles and documentaries with Family and friends