Is Stimela fit enough for Jah Prayzah?

08 Jan, 2017 - 00:01 0 Views
Is Stimela fit enough for Jah Prayzah?

The Sunday Mail

Takudzwa Chihambakwe —
BESIDES the departure of “heavy machine” – Gonyeti – from Jah’s Prayzah’s Third Generation outfit, leaving a huge gap in the soldier boy’s squadron, another member also disappeared from the frontline shortly after, thereby leaving the troops extremely exposed.

This vital member is Stimela aka Fatima Katiji.

Diagnosed with tuberculosis, the bubbly and ever smiling vocalist and dancer was out of action for three months, only to return to the stage shortly before the Watora Mari Concert that was held in December at the Harare International Conference Centre.Deafening cheers welcomed her, her signature beaming smile emblazoned on her face. She seemed to have her act well put together – but is it?

Since her return, Katiji who is still visibly frail, appears to be enduring performances instead of enjoying them.

“I was offstage for about three months and it was hell. Whenever it was Friday I knew I was supposed to be working, only to find myself stuck in bed,” she said.

“Even though the band would come visit and tell me to focus on my health and not think much about work, I found it unbearable having to become a couch potato and not being able to cook or wash for myself, but my husband was there for me and still is giving me special care.

“Management always made sure I get groceries since everyone wanted me to have a speedy recovery. I would also get my salary and it made life easier.”

With regards to fitness, Katiji said she is now regularly exercising on her own and she would soon be back in shape.“I am strong enough to exercise on my own now so I’ll be back in shape in no time. The band is always watching me closely to ensure that I do not strain myself at shows, so they always have a chair on standby just in case I am exhausted and need to rest, they have so much love.

“On that note, let me hasten to say that I wasn’t even rushed to return to work, but the thought of just sitting at home made me even sicker. I actually feel much better when on stage.”

At Third Generation, the stage routines are rigorous, band members wear heavy military boots and sometimes the band can have more than three shows in a day.

How is Katiji faring?

She said: “Jombo haitomboremi inotondipa manyuku-nyuku.”

Three months was quite a speedy recovery for the songstress. Normal treatment for tuberculosis takes between six to nine months, depending on the severity of the case. With the frail looking singer still on treatment, could she not be straining her body – something that might affect her recovery?

“Indeed treatment takes six months, but my doctor says whenever I feel strong enough I can go to work. I am actually finishing treatment in March. My body is responding well to treatment. Besides getting weak a little while after taking my tablets, I have no complaints.”

Katiji also revealed that she now has a new diet, and that, coupled with exercises and stage time has helped her feel normal again. “Besides milk, I no longer take food with too much fat and no more fizzy drinks. It’s more traditional food for me now, which I really like. My diet now includes foods such as sadza re mhunga nemufushwa wemunyemba and derere, which are my favourite and not forgetting matumbu nemaguru, yummy stuff.

“No more fast foods for me. It’s funny how just before I fell sick I was trying to get slim.

Little did I know I was going to be skinny unexpectedly,” she added.Despite the pain, Katiji is always wearing a bright smile that gets revellers consumed and she says she is also back to show love to the fans who stood by her.“As for the smile, well I was born with it, sometimes I don’t even know I’m smiling. Kubva ndichikura I was called the ever smiling one and hey I love the stage. Am also back and full of smiles as a way to show love to the fans. They would say get lots of rest when they visited me at home. They would come laugh, sing and dance with me. They also chipped in financially. I didn’t know I had so many fans. Ndingatadzewo ku recover pakadaro?

“I would like to thank Jah Prayzah and the Third Generation for being there for me and all my friends and fans for the support they gave me when I was not well.”The energetic backing vocalist was adamant that she was not afraid to trigger a relapse by returning to perform in environments that are believed to have initially caused her illness.

“Indeed my sickness was caused by passive smoking, whenever I had a fever my doctor would always say I was too exposed and always advise that I drink milk after every show.

“I have been on stage my whole life, hapana chekumbotya. My doctor says lots of milk after stage, I’ll just follow that,” she said.

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