Chiwoniso Maraire
Chiwoniso MaraireZimbabwean mbira musician - Chiwoniso Maraire (37) has died at South Medical Centre in Chitungwiza in Zimbabwe.
She died after being in the hospital for 10 days suffering from chest pains - suspected to be symptoms of Pneumonia.
An accomplished singer, songwriter, and exponent of Zimbabwean mbira music - Chiwoniso Maraire, was born in 1976 in Olympia, United States of America.
She was the daughter of renowned Zimbabwean mbira player and teacher Dumisani Maraire. She spent the first seven years of her life away from her homeland, Zimbabwe, as her father had moved the family to Washington in US.
When she moved back to Zimbabwe she attended Mutare Girls' High School before taking Advanced Level evening classes at the University of Zimbabwe where her father was teaching.
Chiwoniso was honoured with the Decouverte Afrique by Radio France International after releasing her debut album 'Ancient voices' in 1998.
The album entered the World Music Charts Europe three times and brought her a nomination in the category Best Female Vocals of Africa for the KORA Award in 1999.
From 2001 to 2004, she was member of the multinational all-women band Women’s Voice, whose original members are from Norway, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, America, Israel and Algeria.
She has also worked on soundtracks for movies and documentaries.
Maraire has several albums to her credit and played a role as one of the most revolutionary mbira players crossing all musical borders inspiring young Zimbabweans to play the mbira in a more modern and contemporary way.