Queen Mashie Wows Fans In Homecoming Show

Artist Queen Mashie based in Kenya performed in the Southern African nation of Zimbabwe. She was met with a warm reception., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Queen Mashie wows fans in homecoming show

Tuesday, 23 April 2013 00:00
Arts Correspondent
Zimbabwe Herald

A cocktail of ethnic sounds from Zimbabwe and Kenya is what revellers got on Saturday when Queen Mashie, the Kenyan-based sister of the late legendary guitarist and vocalist Andy Brown, staged a homecoming show at the Book Café.

The former backing vocalist in The Storm, who is highly regarded in Kenya, but relatively unknown in her homeland, showed her Zimbabwean fans she has what it takes to keep her late brother’s legacy alive.

Singing in English, Shona, Swahili and Ndebele, Queen Mashie serenaded her fans with her unique brand of afro-fusion music with tracks from her debut album “Kare Kare” (2005) and “Mbijana Mbijana” (2011).

Apparently, Queen Mashie is not just a singer/songwriter, but an accomplished mbira player as well. And one thing that strikes you is that when she does play you are immediately reminded of Chiwoniso Maraire.

No doubt, she picked up a thing or two from the mbira queen during their time together in The Storm.

Tracks such as “Gona Rinorapa”, “Ndiri Bofu”, “Ndiwe Wandakasarudza”, “Freedom” (about the importance of Africans fighting for their freedom from colonialism),

“Ndadzungaira”, “Totamba” (in which she sings about Africa’s rich diversity of instruments such as mbira, hosho, marimba, ngoma) and Brenda Fassie’s blockbuster hit “Vulindlela” gave fans something to cheer about.

Of course, it would have been a travesty if she had not performed one or more of her mentor’s songs. She paid tribute to Andy with a rendition of one of his most famous hits “Mawere Kongonya” and the crowd loved it.

Although Mashie had struggled to get the revellers on their feet for much of the show, this time they responded en masse.

True, the revellers appeared to have left their dancing shoes at home, but to her credit almost each and every one of Queen Mashie’s songs was greeted with a generous round of applause. And each time she acknowledged their cheers with “Asante Sana”, the Swahili equivalent of ‘Thank you very much”.

But who exactly is Queen Mashie?

A casual look at her profile on Google reveals an impressive curriculum vitae spanning over 15 years dating back to her days in the school and church choirs.

Born Sandra Mashiringo on March 10, 1982 in Gutu, Masvingo province, Queen Mashie credits her brother, the legendary guitarist and vocalist for encouraging her to take up music as a career.

After completing a course in Design and Beauty Therapy at Citizen College, she worked as a back-up vocalist for several artistes including The Storm. It was during this time that she experienced the richness of African music. She was also the lead vocalist in The Vintage Band.

In 2005 she recorded her first album which was purely reggae with a hint of jazz but relocated to Kenya soon after in July 2006 to explore the sounds of East Africa. In no time she became a hit singing with several bands in Nairobi hotels.

It was during this period that her captivating voice and stage antics attracted the Tutu band which she performed with for nearly a year and a half. Shortly, Queen Mashie started composing songs in preparation for her solo career and in September the same year, she did her first concert as Queen Mashie at the Alliance Française de Nairobi.

Apart from performing, Queen Mashie has travelled to Germany and the UK teaching African music in elementary schools.

In 2002 she performed together with her brother, Andy Brown, at the National Sports Stadium during the Independence Gala. In 2004 she performed alongside the “Mapurisa” hitmaker during a UK tour.

Four years later, in 2008, she participated at the prestigious Sauti Za Busara Festival in Zanzibar alongside the Afro Dynamics Band, a group comprising artistes drawn from Austria, France, Mozambique, Senegal and Zimbabwe. Prior to this, Queen Mashie was a back-up vocalist for the legendary Mtukudzi at a concert in San Francisco.

Today, Mashie Band has become one of the most influential and successful bands. Founded in Nairobi, the band now boasts eight members with Mashie as their leader.

Judging from her Saturday’s performance she will certainly give Andy Brown’s daughter Ammara, who turned up in support of her auntie, a good run for her money as heir to the legendary guitarist’s legacy.