By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
A tombstone unveiling for veteran Jerusarema/Mbende drummer Douglas Vambe is scheduled for this Saturday at his rural home in Magunje, Murehwa.
A close family member confirmed to Gem Nation News that the tombstone would be unveiled this weekend.
Vambe, a master practitioner succumbed to stroke in July 2018 at Parirenyatwa Hospital aged.
Born on August 8, 1939 in Magunje village, Uzumba District, Vambe made several strides with his drum.
Vambe popularised Jerusarema/Mbende drumbeat which was adopted by ZBC as its new bulletin signature tune.
However, Vambe tried in vain to have ZBC pay him for using the drumbeat.
He told this report that ZBC didn’t pay him a cent for ‘using his drumbeat’ as the news signature tune.
He claimed the beat was his own creation and that ZBC should’ve paid him a lump sum (a figure he disclosed at the time).
However, perennial changes of leadership at Pockets Hill affected Vambe such that even when Munyaradzi Hwengwere, the then CEO wanted to take up the issue things came to a head.
According to Vambe, Hwengwere engaged him and they agreed on a figure but still he was unable to get his money.
Seeing that there was no headway, Vambe raised the issue with Zimbabwe Music Rights Association and it was there that he faced a major hurdle.
It was discovered that Vambe had no copyrights to the drumbeat because Jeruarema/Mbende was intangible heritage and no one should lay claim to it.
The beat which is performed during Mbende/Jerusarema dance is a popular among the Zezuru people living in the Murehwa and Uzumba, Maramba and Pfungwe districts in eastern Zimbabwe.
Another career highlight was in 2008, he went to the United Kingdom where he performed at the Birmingham International Arts Festival and he managed to share stage with renowned R&B artist R Kelly and Colombian sensation Shakira at the 2010 Fifa World Cup finals in South Africa.
Vambe was a member of the Safeguarding Committee that was established in 2007 to spearhead the protection of the Jerusarema Mbende dance and the committee was chaired by cultural custodian Headman Zihute of the Mangwende clan.
Vambe contributed tremendously in the transmission process of Jerusarema-Mbende elements to safeguard the fertility dance that celebrates life.
Moreover, he promoted the cultural expression by popularising it both locally and internationally.
Vambe kept the dance alive through practicing and imparting the knowledge and skills particularly to youngsters for posterity.
He also played a vital role in reviving the traditional dance groups that had disbanded and those that needed support through training in Zimbabwe.
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