By Terrence Mapurisana
Afro-jazz maestro Bob Nyabinde, who died last Saturday got a huge send-off at Kwekwe Central Cemetery on Tuesday amid a heavy downpour in the Midlands province.
The headmaster as he was popularly known in music died at the age of 68 after a long battle with diabetes and other related complications.
Politicians, musicians, music promoters, officials from the National Arts Council and the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Recreation and those in the education fraternity attended the burial.
A group of musicians who included Mono Mukundu on the guitar, Derek Mpofu, Agga Nyabinde, Hope Masike and Chirikure Chirikure and Albert Nyabinde on the saxophone paid their last respects to the veteran artist through a live performance a song titled Zuva Redu.
Hundreds of people who attended the burial ceremony described the late former ZBC board member, educationist and music icon as multi-talented artists who also had the opportunity to repair and make his own guitars at his workshop resembling the AK 47 gun. I remember the first two guitar guns were presented to the late Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service Commissioner General Paradzai Zimhondi and the late retired air Chief Marshal Perence Shiri.
The Minister of Public Works, Honourable July Moyo said through his music, Bob Nyabinde was a unifier and this is evident in his music lyrical content.
He said a lot has been said about Nyabinde and a lot will also be said of this great man.
He also told mourners that Nyabinde’s biography, written by Munyaradzi Huni and Josh Hozheri which was supposed to be launched on his birthday in March next year, will go ahead and it is expected to be graced by His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Those interviewed in the book include Deputy Chief Secretary Presidential Communications George Charamba, Terrence Mapurisana, Minister July Moyo, musician Steve Makoni and Daisy Mtukudzi.
Others who attended the burial include widow of the late national hero musician Oliver Mtukudzi, Daisy Mtukudzi, Kwekwe business community and members of the Zig Zag band.
His first manager Advocate Obey Matizanadzo deacribed Nyabinde as a hard working musicians who was easy to work with fellow artists and music promoters.
An avid listener of ZBC Classic263 Radio, Bob Nyabinde always had time to give ideas on how the station could improve it’s programming.
Nyabinde started his music career in Mutare before he moved to Kwekwe where he was a school teacher in Redcliff before he was promoted to a Headmaster, earning himself the nickname “The Headmaster”. I remember him sending me his first demo tape and l reviewed in the Sunday Mail. The review was followed by the release of his debut song which became an instant hit.
He later left the teaching profession and went on to play some live jazz music at different jazz festivals with Jabavu Drive, Summer Breeze at Jazz 105 and later produced and released hits such as Pane Nyaya, Chabuda Hapana, Teerera, Samanyika, Matungamidzana (matungamidzana makuseni seni kudai kwakanaka here- as if he was predicting his death), Kurunzirwa ( Gare Gare) Zvipingaidzo and Zvinoita Hope, and Ichokwadi Here? which we co-wrote on our way to Beitbridge for among others. It’s a pity that only a few songs were played on radio and were popular but Nyabinde had other sentimental, adult contemporary songs that were very inspirational in people’s lives.
I will also miss the visits at his guitar repairing workshop and studio in Mazowe Street, Harare and will certainly miss our long drive to Pakare Paye Arts Centre to see Oliver Mtukudzi whilst sampling some of his new songs.
Nyabinde is survived by two sons, Albert a jazz saxophone player and a lecturer at the Harare Polytechnic whose song Pane Nzvimbo is a touching gospel jazzy track and Agga, whose song Tsotsi seems to be lamenting the death of his father- a song that also pays tribute to his late friend. Unlike Agga, Mr Obey Matizanadzo described Albert as an introvert.
We will always cherish the good times that we shared with Bob Nyabinde in that arts industry and as families and always say to ourselves why did the sky decide to turn gray on us.
About Author
