By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
A new biography The Headmaster with A Guitar: Bob Nyabinde was launched at a colourful event in Kwekwe at the weekend.
The book launch in honour of musician Nyabinde is an insightful glimpse into his life on and off the stage.
Perhaps highlights of the biography include a chapter where Oliver Mtukudzi widow Daisy opened about on how wives of superstar should conduct themselves and also parts of Nyabinde’s life as a headmaster before he quit to start music then when fate changed his career after a stroke then his visual impairment.
Nyabinde died aged 68 on December 23, 2023.
Written by veteran journalist and author Munyaradzi Huni of Legacy Diaries, whose focus is on biographies, autobiographies and memoirs.
The book launch was made possible through a partnership between Legacy Diaries and Jazz 105 Promotions headed by famed music promoter Josh Hozheri.
Apparently, Hozheri organised the highly popular Winter Jazz Festival at Jazz 105 for 12 consecutive years.
In launching the biography, Sports, Reaction, Arts and Culture Minister Kirsty Coventry in a speech read on her behalf by Permanent Secretary Nicholas Moyo, said over and above meeting some medical costs for Nyabinde government was supportive of the industry.
The ground-breaking biography, The Headmaster With A Guitar: Bob Nyabinde, is an inspirational biography that was authored by Huni, who conducted several wide-ranging and insightful interviews with the Afro-Jazz Superstar.
In addition, Huni interviewed several of Nyabinde‘s close relatives, former students, band members, childhood friends, fellow musicians, music promoters and corporate executives whose views enriched the biography in ways that make it a must-read.
A former headmaster and later music super star, Nyabinde suffered a stroke and lost his eyesight in 2021, but lived to tell his heartrending but deeply inspiring story that will, no doubt, serve as a manual for both upcoming and established artists.
As for Nyabinde‘s legion of fans, the biography will take them down memory lane and rekindle the halcyon days when Chabuda Hapana was a virtual national anthem.
A mini- jazz festival capped what may already have been a great day of celebration and feast of music in memory of The Headmaster With A Guitar.
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