Rutendo Jacqueline Mugandani nee Ngoreta simply known by music artiste name Rutendo Jackie or ‘RJ’ by affection is an Afro-fusion songstress hailing from the mountainous diamond city of Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Her musical career largely draws inspiration from the late Afro-jazz legend, Chiwoniso Maraire with significant influence and admiration of Lira and Zamajobe.
Born in Mutare on February 18th 1989 and being the only female amongst her siblings Rutendo’s entry into the world of music is a classical case of ‘hot talent spotted and exposed’.
At the age of eight she was able to draw people’s attention to her God given endowment in vocal prowess as she participated in the choir and traditional dance at Chiredzi Primary School.
Rutendo Jackie’s parents raised her and her three brothers according to Christian standards and as such the young discovered talent soon came under controversy as traditional dance did not resonate with the family’s set principles. She later moved to Greenfield Primary School in Bulawayo then did her high school education at Townsend Girls High School in the same city.
In 2005 Rutendo moved to Mutare and also pursued a course in Business Management and Administration.
In 1996 the songstress lost her dad who was a huge pillar of strength and once again the family plunged into pain with the loss of their mother in 2004.
As the only remaining female figure in the family this meant a lot of responsibility on young Jackie. Rutendo is married to Alwyn Mugandani who also plays a huge support role to her career and the couple is blessed with two lovely children.
The great entry on to the professional music stage began when she joined Band Mutare as a lead vocalist and together they would go on to tour numerous places across the country including Leopard Rock, Montclair Hotel and Casino, and The Holiday Inn.
Rutendo Jackie took a break from mainstream music making between 2014 and 2019 to concentrate on her family and other business interests in fashion; she owns a bridal and clothing stable named RJ Collection.
In 2019 the Afro-fusion songstress returned on the scene with a Tami Bimha produced single titled ‘Usandisiye’. In the same year she took her musical career further by establishing the Afro Blue Band which she still does tours around the country with today.
This is an ensemble consisting of young super talented and highly motivated bandsmen.
The six track album ‘Love Me As I Am’ was released.
2020 saw the release of two singles, ‘Zarurai Nzira’ and ‘Handidi Nhamo’ which both played on the continental music television channel Trace Africa Rutendo had another great year in 2021 as she worked with Jah Prayzah’s fronted Military Touch Movement (MTM) Stable music director Victor Stot on a single titled ‘Waya Waya’.
South African based globally acclaimed music artist Mr. Brown joined Rutendo Jackie on a project titled ‘Don’t Let Go’ in 2022 getting airplay on music television channels Trace Africa, Channel O, and MTV Base.
Another solid project done with South Africa based X Mile titled ‘Nguva’ was done in the same year and a second song with Victor Stot titled ‘Mbereka’
This growing body of work earned Rutendo Jackie some recognition in 2022 winning the Best Female Artiste award at the Manicaland Creative Awards (MCAs) before picking up Best Collabo gong for ‘Don’t Let Go’ with Mr Brown.
Rutendo also emerged winner for the Women In Arts and Culture (Jazz Music) at the 2022 ZNCC Manicaland Women in Enterprise Awards.
As an advocate for women voices it was such an honorable feat for Jackie to take part in the 16 Women Voices alongside Fatima Katiji and Mary Anibal to mention but two which was a campaign against gender- based violence in partnership with Music in Africa.
Meanwhile, Rutendo Jackie and team have also taken the brand to the corporate world with performances at various events for companies such as ZIMRA, Holiday Inn, CBZ Bank, Verify Engineering, and Banc ABC.
In a bid to take the Rutendo Jackie from just a ‘Mutare artist’ to a nationally recognized one the artist supported by Muvaz Media arranged a Tour Of Harare where Rutendo performed at Gava’s Restaurant, Spitzkop Leisure Centre, and Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre which has since seen her frequenting a number of shows in Harare and Mutare in 2022 with a growing invitation to many different platforms ranging from cook shows to interviews at various television and radio stations in the country.
As an entrepreneur Rutendo uses some of her time to run RJ Collection – a clothing and bridal shop and a home and interior décor business selling paintings and different art pieces as she is also an addict for art and traditional food.
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