Mashakada ‘resurrects’ in new album

The late Cephas Mashakada

The late Cephas “Moto Muzhinji” Mashakada had so much love for his wife — Eunice Ncube — to the extent he feared she would desert him when his leg was amputated. Yet the widow, a keen follower of her late husband’s musical works, was bound to her man from the time he was diagnosed with diabetes up to the time of his painful death.

Mashakada died last year in August after a well-publicised battle with diabetes. Almost a year after his death, his widow has released an album — Shungu Dzangu (My Ambitions) — an album which mirrors the burning wishes of the late burly singer whose jiti and gospel music ranked him amongst the top stars in the industry.

Shungu Dzangu comprises six tracks — three written by Mashakada and the remainder by Eunice. And in a rare interview with the Daily News, Eunice said her husband continues to give her company — but through dreams which she says are a reflection of his ever presence in her life.“Cephas helped me to write the other three songs, so I can say all the songs on the album were composed by him. He is dead in flesh but we are still interacting with him in spirit,” she said.

“It was his wish to see me singing one day, ndidzo shungu dzake Cephas, that is why I named the album Shungu Dzangu. Because he visits me in my dreams, a clear indication that he does not want his band to crumble, it left me with no choice but to fulfil his wishes,” Eunice told the Daily News.

Owing to her advanced age, Mashakada’s widow will only manage and write songs for the Sounds of the Muddy Face. She has vowed not to hold live concerts on her own. “My age restricts me from holding concerts in my name, so the band will continue touring the country with Chibage and I assure the Sounds of the Muddy Face fans that nothing changed, it is still moto moto (more fire),” she said.

Senior band member Shame “Chibage” Mashonganyika provided lead vocals on the new album. “I am still an amateur in the music industry, my voice is still trembling while singing so I tasked Chibage to assist with vocals,” she said. In his career spanning three decades Mashakada recorded 15 albums. Dailynews