Zimbabwe's Queen shines

Kenya-based Zimbabwean artiste Queen Mashie (Sandra Mashiringo) is an accomplished songstress and a talented instrumentalist. She speaks to CAROLINE NYANGA about her life and music

You recently launched your third album in Nairobi and Harare. Tell us about it.

It’s dubbed Mbijana Mbijana. It took me exactly two years to finish the eleven-track album, produced by Alain of Onwards Records.

Queen Mashie performs with her eight-member band at Alliance FranÁaise in December last year. [PHOTOS:EVANS Habil/Standard]

It boasts a brand new fusion style and a more contemporary feel. If you love unique pure African music with sweet melodies, then this is it.

The first launch was done in Harare in August last year while the second one took place recently at Alliance FranÁaise in Nairobi.

This was an album I knew would take off the moment we embarked on recording. The launch also marked my 12 years in music.

What was the reception like?

It was very good. The CDs sold out in numbers during the event. I am honoured that people across Africa and beyond appreciate my music. My desire has always been to make quality music, something different from the pop music played on radio.

Musically, I see opportunity everywhere. For me music is a long journey hence the need to take time and come up with a good product, as opposed to doing things in a huff.

Nevertheless, I still hope to sell it more across the country in a bid to popularise it even more.

What inspired the album?

The resounding message is that music has no boundaries despite the language barrier that exists between diffrerent peoples. It can be used as a tool to entertain, educate, encourage and change people’s lives -— more so those coming from war-torn and ravaged areas like Zimbabwe.

At some point I felt like happiness was a luxury that I could not afford in my life, but in the process of doing this album, I realised I could make a choice for the better.

I have currently embarked on promoting the album, focusing on touring Kenya as well as the rest of Africa. The album is recorded in Swahili, English and Shona.

What makes your music unique?

The fact that my repertoire blends Zimbabwean chimurenga and South African kwaito with elements of Coastal chakacha and a tinge of rhumba.

My messages are meant to encourage my fellow Zimbabweans at a time when Zimbabwe is coming out of its most depressed period.

I also believe my music is a trail-blazing and uplifting breath of fresh air in the tradition set by my internationally acclaimed predecessors and compatriots Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mtukudzi, Andy Brown and Chiwoniso.

Those who have watched me perform will agree that my music comprises a cocktail of ethnic sounds from Zimbabwe and Kenya to suit the audience.

What makes you stand out?

Apart from singing I play various musical instruments — the mbira (traditional instrument widely played in Zimbabwe and Congo, where it is known as likembe), shakers and guitar.

I founded my band a year ago in Nairobi, and currently it has eight members.

What inspires the theme of your songs?

Daily life happenings, more so the adversities faced by my fellow Zimbabweans who are coming out of a difficult spate. The guitars, trumpet, saxophones and drums accompanied by mbira, give my music a true taste of Africa.

When did you really start singing?

After completing high school and moving to Harare to pursue a course in Design and Beauty Therapy, I joined my bother, Andy Brown’s band (The Storm) as a back-up vocalist for several artists. Andy, an accomplished musician, convinced me to ditch the computer studies for music in 2002.

It was during this period that I appreciated the value of African music.

I later joined the Vintage Band as a lead singer with the veteran guitarist Mdhara Timi Makaya before moving on to work as a back-up vocalist for Oliver Mtukudzi for two years. After that I went solo.

Was it easy working as a solo artiste?

It is never easy to build a music career but, like they say, there comes a time when one has to stand on their own. And for me this was the right time to do so.

In the process of experimenting with music I released my debut album, Haya Hype, a reggae affair with a pinch of jazz in 2005 before leaving for Kenya.

How was it like working with Oliver Mtukudzi?

It was a great honour considering he is one of African’s music legends.

Apart from his industrious nature and no nonsense attitude when it comes to work; his simple, down to earth personality combined with his level of understanding makes it easier to work with him.

I learnt a lot as far as playing musical instruments goes.

How and when did you come to Kenya?

In 2006, I moved to Nairobi in a bid to explore the sounds of East Africa and performed with several bands, including Nyota Safi.

It was during this time that I met Juma Tutu, who asked me to join his already established Tutu Band where I worked for nearly a year and a half. While with Tutu Band I composed songs for my album, Kare Kare ( long time ago) in September the same year after signing up with Sound Africa.

This enabled me stage my first concert as a solo artiste at the Alliance FranÁaise, Nairobi. I followed this with collaborations featuring different artistes from Kenya and Zimbabwe, to produce my second album Queen Mashie Collaboration recorded in 2009.

In 2008 I participated at Sauti Za Busara Festival representing Zimbabwe alongside the Afro Dynamics Band, a group consisting of artistes from Austria, France, Senegal, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

I am happy we have played to thousands of fans all over the country besides touring various countries.

How would you compare the Zimbabwean and Kenyan music scenes?

Unlike Kenya, the Zimbabwean music came of age way back, and the country has produced some of the world’s celebrated artistes. This is, however, not to say that Kenya lags behind in terms if music. On the contrary it has come of age too, with many more artistes breaking into the international limelight.

Tell us about yourself?

Born in Gutu, Masvingo, Zimbabwe, I am the last-born in a family of six — two boys and four girls.

I am also a beautician by profession.

Memorable moments of your career?

They are many, such as performing together with my brother, Andy Brown, at the Zimbabwean National Sports Stadium during the Independence Gala in 2001.

In 2004, backing up my brother, we performed in various concerts in the UK.

In 2006 I was a back-up vocalist for the legendary Oliver Mtukudzi at a concert in San Francisco and also other European countries.

Participating it Sauti Za Busara Festivalin 2008, representing Zimbabwe alongside the Afro Dynamics Band was also great.

It was here that I composed and recorded my first Mbira song on Kare Kare album and on my recent album Mbijana Mbijana.