By Fred Zindi
How I wish that it was a bad dream. I try to think, that if I am like this, I can imagine how devastated his immediate family such as Clancy Mbirimi must be feeling.
To all the readers of this column, I say: Raise your hand if Oliver Mtukudzi’s death in 2019 hit you harder than you expected. Okay, I can’t see you; you can’t see me, but I assure you, my hand is raised.
I had a plan for today’s post, but I don’t seem to focus on writing it because I have been thinking obsessively about Friday Mbirimi’s death and the grief that accompanies it. Let’s be honest, even if Tuku’s death did not make an impact on you, you can probably think of another close friend’s death that hit you harder than you imagined.
Friday Mbirimi was a Zimbabwean jazz musician, who was part of the Mbare Trio, together with his brother, the late Lovejoy Mbirimi, who died in August 2020, as well as William Kashiri.
Friday died last Tuesday.
When I was 10 years old, I saw the Harare Mambos for the first time in Mutare with Greenford Jangano on bass, William Kashiri on vocals and Elisha Josam on lead guitar. This instantly triggered my passion for music as I loved everything they did. They were at the time contracted by Lever Brothers, a corporate institute, to advertise the Sunlight Soap brand. I followed the Harare Mambos wherever they performed just to hear William’s golden voice.
Later, Friday joined the Harare Mambos as a drummer. When Greenford, who had so many contracts to perform throughout the country, decided to form Harare Mambo A, B, C and D, I was aged 15 and had accomplished my guitar skills. So, I joined the Harare Mambo B and Friday became the drummer in the band. His brother Clancy Mbirimi had joined Harare Mambo A to replace Green, who now preferred to play the keyboards. One afternoon we were asked to perform at a wedding in Mutare. Friday had left his drum sticks in Harare. He had to improvise. He borrowed two coat-hangers from a man who lived nearby and used them as drum sticks. The drum skins were completely torn after the event and we were all fired by Green for letting that happen. We were all part time musicians at the time.
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Friday was already a headmaster at a primary school and I was still in secondary school. I did not meet Friday again until after I had returned from my studies in 1990. He was now Senior Assistant Registrar in the Faculty of Arts and I had become a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe. He asked me if we could form a band again as we both had passion for music, but I was already involved with the Frontline Kids Band. He later formed the Mbare Trio with his brother Lovejoy Mbirimi and my all – time idol Kashiri.
After a stint at the University of Zimbabwe, where his late wife also worked, Friday decided to leave his job there. Ben Zulu and I were board members at the Zimbabwe College of Music. Around 2005, we advertised for a registrar for the college and I asked Friday to apply for that post. The following year when I had become the chairman of the college’s board, I elevated Friday to become the director at the college. He would invite Kashiri and Lovejoy, members of his new group, the Mbare Trio, to come to the college which was equipped with guitars, pianos and other music instruments to rehearse.
I would sometimes sneak into their rehearsal room at the college just to see what they were doing. The combination of voices in their songs was just incredible.
They released a most harmonious album in 2007 entitled Uru Rufaro which remains the only album they recorded since 2007.
The Mbare Trio album features several copyright songs although these were done in Mbare-Trio-style. The sound is crisp and well recorded. The 10-track album opens with an intro called Fishers of Men which many will be familiar with from the Trio’s live shows.
The album then sinks into Anodyiwa Haaataure Manyepo, a synthesis of System Tazvida’s song. This is followed by Callisto Nyamhute’s Special Meat and Bob Nyabinde’s Chabuda Hapana.
The next track is The Super Sounds’ Mutongi Gava. This song, proved to be quite popular with live audiences at all the Trio’s live shows.
Another track on the album, Chigaba Chemanyuchi, was written by Oliver Mtukudzi for the group.
Friday and Bob Nyabinde shared one thing in common: They were also school headmasters in the past and they both left their professions as in order to pursue music full-time.
However, it is Bob who still carries “The Headmaster” name tag.
Friday and Kashiri both lost their wives and it is amazing how they made such sad situations feel like light moments. There was always a snippet of humour thrown in between songs. Sometimes when they were on stage you would hear Friday announce, “Ini naWilliam, tiri shirikadzi” (William and I are widows). During break, Friday would also say: “Tichamboendaku ladies” (We are going to the ladies’ toilet). As Mono Mukundu put it, “Of course, all musicians are natural comics, but Mudhara Friday was the funniest musician ever and aidenha rough, we will miss all those moments”.
Apart from the good music this trio delivered, these are some of the little things which made attending Mbare Trio’s live concerts memorable.
Mbare Trio’s favourite venues included Jazz 105, Harare Gardens, Chez Zandi Bistro and Wine Bar and Sapes Trust which is situated along Deary Road, Belgravia, near Parirenyatwa Hospital.
According to Friday: “I really enjoy jazz festivals and I am disappointed if my band is skipped from such because I really don’t want to miss them.”
Remembering his words, last year, before the Covid-19 outbreak I posted on my Facebook page my concern after I had noticed that Friday had not turned up for the Back 2 Jazzics Winter Jazz Festival. It was not like Friday not to show up at such big festivities. So I wrote: “Where is Friday Mbirimi?” I received several responses, but I was, however, consoled by Clancy Mbirimi who replied: “He is there at his house in Prospect, Waterfalls. You can go and see him.”
The following Saturday, I went to his house, blew my car horn at the locked gate, but there was nobody, except a dog which came barking at me. After about 10 minutes I decided to drive off. I was told that I should have been more patient as he had problems walking to the gate. Since that time I never saw Friday again.
Since last Tuesday, a day after Easter Monday, there has been an outpouring of condolence messages and tributes. I wish I had enough space to write them, but here are a few, mainly from fellow musicians:
Fungai Malianga, a musician based in London: “Friday was a huge all-round entertainer. We have much to thank him for his contribution to the music industry.”
Patience Musa, musician and a ZiFM D.J.: “The passing-on of Friday really shook me. We, as journalists, need to do more to tell our people’s stories when they are still alive rather than wait until they are either old or dead.”
Master Pablo Nakappa, a jazz musician: “Go well father, friend, mentor and jazz guru.”
Sam Mataure, ex-Mtukudzi drummer and manager: “I still can’t believe it. He was one of my heroes and oldest professional drummer.”
Filbert Marova, jazz musician, guitarist, keyboards player and multi-instrumentalist: “Very sad indeed. The jazz fraternity has lost a real giant.”
Peter Mparutsa, bassist, producer and vocalist with RUNN Family: “My deepest condolences on the passing-on of Mukoma Friday.”
Ngonidzashe Michael Chinyamurindi, Hollywood-based movie star and musician: “A giant is no more. What a huge loss. He was a great human being.”
Ebba Chitambo, former drummer with Bulawayo-based Wells Fargo: “May his soul rest in peace.”
Mehluli Moyo of Afrika Revenge fame: “We have fond memories of Mdara Friday Mbirimi. Rest in peace mudhara wangu”.
Carlton Mparutsa, Alick Macheso’s manager and drummer: “His connection with the younger generation was just amazing.”
Marshall Shonhai, music journalist: “Sad to hear of the passing- on of yet another legend, the great Friday Mbirimi. The local music fraternity is poorer today.”
Andrew Moyse, an all-round journalist: “Friday was a free spirit, a wonderful musician and colleague of long ago. He will be sadly missed but never forgotten.”
Kundisai Mtero, a vocalist and optician: “Heaven has gained an incredible songster in the Saintly and Angelic Choir. Clancy Mbirimi and the rest of the Mbirimi family, I feel your pain.”
Here are a few more who expressed their condolences and tributes:
Dr Ibbo Mandaza of SAPES Trust, Richard Mvududu, board member from the Zimbabwe College of Music, South Africa-based Louis Mhlanga, Tanga wekwaSando, Kelly Rusike, Nigel Munyati, Lloyd Chidikano, Tomson Chauke, Busi Ncube, Germany-based Plot Mhako, Botswana-based Clayton Ndlovu, Edgar Hendrick Langeveldt, Penny Yon, Enock Piroro, Hope Masike, Mono Mukundu , Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana and Albert Nyathi.
They all thank Friday for his guidance and support.
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