Staff Writer
Gwenyambira Ambuya Stella Chiweshe’s body was wrapped in a cloth while her casket was smashed as per her request before burial.
The iconic Ambuya Chiweshe succumbed to brain tumour in Harare last week at age 77.
She was laid to rest on Tuesday in Nekati Village under Chief Masembura some 40 km from Bindura.
Lovingly called Ambuya Chiweshe not because she was a spirit medium but because she lived by her traditional customs and values, she was given a state-assisted funeral by President Mnangagwa.
Despite Nyaradzo funeral parlor providing an expensive casket that carried her body to Nekati village, her body was removed from the casket and wrapped in a reed mat (rukukwe) and cloth before being lowered into the grave.
The family said this was done in accordance with her desire to easily be connected with her ancestral spirits.
According to the family they were only following her instructions.
The media was barred from the graveside.
And as she had requested in the living years, only traditional music was played at the funeral wake.
Prior to her death, Ambuya Chiweshe was said to have instructed the family not to play any gospel songs at her funeral.
Mbuya Chiweshe’s eldest daughter, Maidei Charity Mapuranga, described the gwenyambira as a true fighter.
Stating as a matter of fact, Maidei told mourners that Ambuya Chiweshe was popular by her totem rather than her real surname which is Nekati.
Maidei said they tried their best to save Mbuya Chiweshe.
Some of mbira acts that performed at the funeral were Vee Mhofu and Dzivarembira who honoured Mbuya Chiweshe with song and
Dance, Kessia Magosha, Sasha Amadhuve, Ammi Jamanda, Lioness, Mama Rachie, Wilfred “Nyamasvisva” MaAfrika and several traditional dancers from Mufakose.
Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister, Kirsty Coventry, her deputy Tino Machakaire, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe representatives, villagers and other artists attended the burial.
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