\u201cIncwad\u2019encane\u201d means a small letter, when translated, probably an epistle to Zimbabweans, by then a nascent Zahara in the music industry.<\/p>\n
It was the beginning of a love affair between Zimbabwe and Zahara.<\/p>\n
\u201cIncwad\u2019encane\u201d, which featured veteran radio presenter George Munetsi is off Zahara\u2019s debut album \u201cLoliwe\u201d released in 2011.<\/p>\n
According to Munetsi, the two\u2019s musical romance began before she launched her debut album.<\/p>\n
\u201c(We met) At a show I was MC\u2019ing. She was an opening act. She hadn\u2019t started recording her debut album. That was 8 months before her album was released,\u201d Munetsi told NewZimbabwe.com.<\/p>\n
Then 24-year-old Zahara\u2019s exquisite voice was showing signs of propelling the East London-born muso to stardom.<\/p>\n
It was her powerful voice that attracted Munetsi, birthing \u201cIncwad\u2019encane\u201d which transcended into Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen she started to sing at that performance. Her music spoke to my heart. I just lent my Shona soulful vocals to her SA soul music. I kept to the Zim Shona influence 100% and didn\u2019t let anything from the song take me away from that path. The song was already fully recorded and complete when I laid my vocals on it,\u201d Munetsi told NewZimbabwe.com.<\/p>\n
Since 2011, Zahara\u2019s bond with Zimbabwe strengthened with the South African songstress visiting Zimbabwe numerous times, especially in Bulawayo.<\/p>\n
Zahara charmed the heart of legendary musician Oliver Mtukudzi which saw her frequenting his Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton for shows.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, Ringo Madlingozi was the last artist to lace Shona and Xhosa language when he incorporated Tuku on the song \u2018Into yami\u2019, before Zahara pulled \u201cincwad\u2019encane\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Zimbabwean doors were opened by \u201cloliwe\u201d and \u201cincwad\u2019encane\u201d which resonated with many locals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was fun. It was as if we had known each other for a long time. I don\u2019t know whether it was gratitude that I had given her her 1st ever commercial radio interview when she was virtually unknown that made her feel obliged to let me be on a song on her album. I was the only duet artist on that debut album by the way,\u201d said Munetsi.<\/p>\n
In 2017, on her project \u201cMgodi\u201d, Shona lyrics effortlessly flowed out of Zahara.<\/p>\n
Her affinity with Shona continued when she was featured on the song \u201cKana ndada\u201d by Jah Prayzah on the album \u201cHokoyo\u201d.<\/p>\n
Zahara\u2019s death, at the age of 36 on Monday night due to liver complications, was felt in Zimbabwe leading to an outpouring of condolences.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for the wonderful memories, we will continue to enjoy the music and relive the moments. Go well my friend,\u201d Jah Prazah paid tribute to Zahara.<\/p>\n
Zahara, despite controversy and legal disputes that dogged her till her demise, Munetsi fondly remembers his last encounter with her.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was more than 5 years ago at the Kaya FM radio station. She was coming in and I was leaving and we bumped into each other at the entrance to the studio.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn asking her how she was, tears just started rolling down her eyes and I held her. She never really told me why she was crying and to this day I am still none the wiser. I remember telling her she\u2019ll be ok,\u201d said Munetsi.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
IT was the strumming sound of a guitar on the song \u201cIncwad\u2019encane\u201d, that Zahara etched into the hearts of many Zimbabweans.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12963,"featured_media":38281,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,31],"tags":[7,14,32],"class_list":{"0":"post-38284","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"category-music","9":"tag-apie-project","10":"tag-entertainment","11":"tag-music"},"yoast_head":"\n