The Sunday Mail
Society Reporter
JOYCE Warikandwa’s brand is growing fast in mbira circles.
The musician wrote and sang the song “Zviri Nane Ndiende Kure”, better known by many as “Moyo Yavo Yakaoma”.
What separates Warikandwa from some of her better-known contemporaries is the fact that she shies away from the public glare. Constantly shuttling between her rural home in Mhondoro and Gutu, Masvingo, Warikandwa prefers a quiet rural life, far from “the madding crowd”. She teaches mbira music to mostly foreigners at Ubuntu Cultural Village in Gutu.
The song “Zviri Nane Ndiende Kure”, which was recorded live at the village a few years back, is currently one of the most-watched mbira music videos on the internet and is receiving rave reviews.
A classical mbira song with a fresh contemporary take, the track is a favourite for traditional music lovers who are both resident in the country and those that are based in the Diaspora.
“I can play this song over and over again. It is a sweet tune and the way the drums are played is something else,” Tonderayi Mupandawana, a blogger, wrote.
Another blogger who is based in the Diaspora added that the track ignites a nostalgic feeling.
“With this song, the spirits will surely be invoked. This song reminds me of home,” said the blogger.
Warikandwa chronicled how the song came into being.
“I was teaching my students at Ubuntu Cultural Village how to play mbira, hosho and the drums when we decided to record the session. After recording, the video was posted online and it became an instant sensation,” she said.
Blessed with a sweet, piercing voice, the musician said the song talks about a person who decides to leave home after a misunderstanding with family members.
“In this song, I was singing about one of the common things that happen in our everyday lives. As family, we occasionally fail to agree and a family member might choose to go to a distant area so as to avoid future conflict.”
Although her song is appreciated far and wide, she remains the ordinary mbira music teacher who shies away from attention. She lives a peaceful and simple rural life.
