MBIRA musician Shiella Chasara, nee Ndakaziwa, is readying herself for the release of her third album and has in the past weeks been in the studio doing touch-ups on the album.
The Chitungwiza-based mbira musician did not name the title of the album saying her fans will know it very soon.
Her first two albums are Kumakombwe Kunorira Ngoma and Nhoroondo.
Speaking to Standard Style, Chasara said the aim of her music was to exhort Zimbabweans to remain united, working for the development of the country.
“My wish is to see Zimbabweans united and working together for the development of the country,” she said.
“The aim of this album is to exhort citizens to realise the wealth their country possesses, from the natural right up to what we have made as Zimbabweans.
“This is the thrust of all my music, but you will realise the track Zimbabwe on Nhoroondo seems to sum it all.”
Ndira-Zvita, a scintillating blend of mbira and the guitar — which already has a video — shows the musician is reliving Zimbabwe’s 1970s war of liberation through her music.
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“Kubva muna Ndira, kusvika muna Zvita
Takapinda mumapako tikapinda mumasango
Pasi pemvura –tairwire nyika.”
(From January to December
“We got into caves, we entered forests.
“We went under the water – we were fighting for freedom)”.
Born in 1962 in Bikita district, Masvingo province, Chasara says she enjoyed music from an early age and used her talent in poetry recital, something she did regularly while still in primary school at Nebarwe in Bikita.
After moving to Nyanga, where her mother hailed from, Chasara continued with her love for the arts but had added a feather to her hat — she had also started doing traditional dance at St Joseph’s Mission.
She vividly remembers the times when freedom fighters moved into Assembly points in 1979 and the preceding years when soldiers would storm their school in search of liberation fighters who would have disappeared.
Although it was only in 2020 when she started recording music in earnest, she has always been a child of the struggle and her albums, the eight-track Kumakombwe Kunorira Ngoma and the six-track Nhoroondo are testimony to this.
All her songs are self-explanatory and exude the deep mbira beat with backing guitars.
“I am worried about the obtaining cultural erosion in our communities. I just wish our youths desist from taking drugs and other dangerous substances that rare destroying their potential. Just look at the violence they embark on after taking these harmful substances,” Chasara said.
“During our time, we respected our women, our mothers. All this is gone. Our tradition is very rich and traditional knowledge systems are still being used by learned people today.
“We should come together, bring our different ideas to the table and work for the good of our country. The sacrifices by the Chinhoyi Seven, the massacres at Chimoio, Nyadzonia, Tembwe and elsewhere are not mean.”
The mbira musician expressed the hope that her backing group — the Zimbabwe Pure Arts and Culture — will remain intact, churning out music for Zimbabweans.
The members of her group include Fungai Chisakuwana (rhythm guitar), who worked with the late Cde Chinx as well as Mr Bulk, former guitarist with the late John Chibadura, Douglas Katsvairo (lead), Stanley Mupariwa (bass), Elwyn Taruvinga and dancers JinnetteKuweyo and Cristine Tanyanyiwa.
Having been around during the liberation struggle, Chasara said resources permitting, her group will be holding live shows soon so that Zimbabweans can have a feel of it.
