Ambuya Stella Chiweshe Didn’t Want Christian Songs At Her Funeral

MBIRA legend, Ambuya Stella Chiweshe, told her family that she wanted traditional music to be sung during her burial.

Speaking to H Metro, the late Ambuya Chiweshe’s youngest child, Virginia Mukwesha, on Saturday said that it was her mother’s wish for traditional music to be played instead of church songs since she was not a churchgoer.

“My sister is the only one who is Christian. She is a Catholic, but my mother and I never put our faith in Christianity. We believe in spirit mediums, and ancestors and we take traditional snuff for spiritual insight.

“We cannot ban mourners from singing church songs, but to be honest it was not my mother’s wish,” she said.

Read Also: Thomas Mapfumo Postpones Album Release

Mourners, including Christians, took their time dancing to Ambuya Chiweshe’s music at her homestead.

“She valued our culture, and our tradition and managed to build this house by being guided by her ancestors. Technology is the way to go. The cameras fitted at the house helped us to watch over the house while we were in Germany.

“We trusted people who take care of it, but technology allows us to enjoy such privileges,” she said.

A number of artists that included Hope Masike, Chirikure Chirikure, Albert Nyathi and officials from the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe were among the mourners.

Mbuya Chiweshe’s burial will be in the Masembura area near Bindura town where she built an arts centre.

“It was her wish to be buried there and we are just following what she said. She was indeed a good mother who will be best remembered for her love and talent as an artist,” said Virginia.