By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Gospel queen Reverend Ivy Kombo-Kasi is asking a lot of questions surrounding the death of Jackie Madondo in her tribute song to the Vessels Of Honour lead singer.
Jackie Madondo was one of the most promising gospel musicians to emerge in Zimbabwe but her death was shrouded in mystery.
She died after the car she was driving collided head-on with an army truck in Harare on her way to Nguva Yakwana concert.
The song is called St Jackie. It was Rev Ivy who first introduced Jackie to the recording studios, collecting her from Hatfield High where she was doing her A levels and bringing her into Gramma studios to do backing vocals on her songs.
Then later to the Gospel Train studios until later Jackie was able to record with her own group Vessels of Honour.
Jackie died on her way to Perform at the Nguvayakwana hence the word Hauna Kusvika.
The Mazuva Acho Mwari singer was part of the bill together with several top gospel musicians from Zimbabwe and South Africa.
And as per tradition, on the day of the accident, the concert was already sold out but Jackie could not make it to the Harare International Conference Centre, the venue of the popular Nguva Yakwana also a brainchild of Rev Ivy Kombo-Kasi.
That said, the song is a sad one as Ivy goes back into time and asks why on that day Jackie didn’t make it and what could have happened.
“Jackie zvaita sei?,” she asks, “vanhu vamirira Jackie dai asvika azvotiimbira.” She also explains how heartbroken she was upon hearing the news of the death of Jackie.
She takes us to the hospital where she hoped Jackie would talk to her but unfortunately she was no more.
The song also proves what a great storyteller Ivy is in song.
And the accompanying visuals evoke sad emotions surrounding the death of a loved one in this case is Jackie Madondo.
Her adoring fans waited to see her on stage that as fate would have it that was impossible. Those who loved Jackie will surely relate to the song and even remember the day of the tragic incident.
At the time of Jackie’s death, she had recorded Mazuva Acho with her group Vessels of Honour. She also featured on the redo of Ivy’s first album, Mufudzi Wangu which included Ivy’s original song Utiziro.
Jackie also recorded an album Achadzoka under the Gospel Train label, produced by Bishop-General Addy Kasi.
Her works rose to prominence more after her death as people realised they had lost a musical genius.
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