TAKUDZWA HILLARY CHIWANZA
MUSIC educator Patience Musandirire, known as HweMonga, has released his debut single titled Wematongo, a riveting love song inspired by the influences of Zimbabwean ancient traditions as regards romance, as well as the modernity of Afro-Jazz.
It is such a sweet song to listen to, a clear indication of the vast musical experience that HweMonga possesses. There is nothing rushed about it, with HweMonga flexing his ability to merge instruments in ways that will leave you wanting more.
Wematongo, at its core, is a revisit to the distant past, invoking the long-forgotten cultural ways of a people; and in this way he tells us something: it's perfectly fine to celebrate your ways. More so with the advent of technological advancements that have greatly improved the quality of music production. HweMonga gives us a unique feel not heard elsewhere, using music as a means to channel messages laden with relatable meanings. To him, all that matters is preserving our cultural identity. And what other better way than to do it using music?
Rural life may seem to be the epitome of a humdrum existence for some; but it's cultural significance is not lost on HweMonga. In the song Wematongo, we see the rural setting as the provenance of all hopeful stories that make life worth living, He takes his time to create a sound that brings to life that which may be rendered a relic of antiquity.
Wematongo is a smogasbord of serenading instrumental sounds, with the drums taking prominence amid a swirl of rich melodies. He allows his vocal to run freely throughout the song, in what may sound a tad dissonant with some of the keys, but that is the tradition of any jazz-inspired sound. He intones his voice with much passion, pouring his heart out to the woman he is pursuing—with poetry capable of sweeping a woman off her feet.
His story of a romance in the countryside is sufficient—and all the woman being referred to has to do is accept his hand in this innocent love affair. It is a story of a love rooted in the advantages of familiarity: as the song borrows from a Shona saying, "rooranai vematongo," which essentially implies it is far more advantageous to get married to people you know; to families which enjoy good relations with each other.
That's how sharp his songwriting and storytelling is on the overall. He adequately makes a convincing case that he is the experienced music educator he is. And that is admirable. The pen, the voice, and the instrumental converge to create one of the best songs any music lover will deeply appreciate. His masterful precision with the sound truly shows he is a virtuoso in the music profession. There can be no doubt about that.
At some points, one may feel he needs to let the instrumental run a bit longer without any vocal, just to appreciate the abundant intelligence in the production of the song. But this does not take away anything from it—especially when one remembers this is his debut song despite having spent the major part of his music career as an educator.
And a bit about HweMonga's background. Born Patience Musandirire on August 23, 1977 in Harare, his is more of an innate passion to do music. He was inspired by his Uncle Godfrey Musandirire, who used to play the mbira instrument, and his father Isiah Nyatsine Musandirire who used to play the acoustic guitar. In 2000, he earned a Diploma in Education with a distinction in Music Major from the esteemed University of Zimbabwe at Seke Teachers’ College, marking the beginning of his journey as a music educator.
His insatiable quest to learn more about the music craft and how to perfect it led him to the University of Pretoria in South Africa, where he earned a Bachelor of Music with Honors in Music Education in 2009. With this, HweMonga set out to make his contributions in the music profession—and currently, he resides Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates where he is a full-time music teacher at a British international school. And where the magical song Wematongo was brought to life.
Although in the diaspora, he realized the infinite importance of a music video accompanying the song; one set in the rural areas—"paruzevha" (which is Shona for the Tribal Trust Lands or "native reserves," now called communal areas, where the majority of Zimbabweans were pushed to in colonial times as settlers took all the rich land for themselves). The video, directed by the talented Simba Gee, radiates exuberance and gives more colour to life in the rural areas—and to a story of romance as the video brightly presents.
If looking for an artistic offering that tells a rich story of preserving cultural heritage and identity, Wematongo is a good starting point.
This author had the privilege of having a conversation with HweMonga, who amply gave us enough context on the new single as well his about his journey.
Below are excerpts of the conversation between Takudzwa Hillary Chiwanza (THC) for ZimSphere and HweMonga.
THC: How has been the music teaching journey for you?
HweMonga: My music teaching journey has been incredibly rich and diverse, shaped by a wide range of experiences across different cultures, age groups, and communities. Being involved in cultural exchange programs made me gain a deep understanding of how music functions as a universal language, bridging cultural divides and fostering mutual understanding.
Teaching students from different countries expanded my perspective on how music is perceived and practiced in various parts of the world. Each student brings their unique background, which not only influences how they learn but also enriches one’s teaching methods. This diversity required me to be adaptable and sensitive to different cultural nuances, making my approach to teaching more inclusive and dynamic.
Working with different age groups always adds another layer of complexity and fulfillment. Whether teaching children, teenagers, or adults, I had to tailor my methods to suit different levels of understanding and engagement. Teaching music to communities and playing with various groups further deepened my connection to the power of music as a communal experience, reinforcing its role in bringing people together.
My journey as a music teacher has been a blend of education, cultural exchange, and community building, all united by a shared love for music. This breadth of experience not only enhances my teaching but also positions me as a cultural ambassador, using music as a tool to connect people across the world.
THC: What would be your comment on the need to fuse traditional cultural elements in our songs?
HweMonga: Infusing traditional cultural elements in our songs helps to preserve our cultural identity which allows us to connect to our historical heritage. This helps to educate people and listeners about a culture’s unique aspects inspiring its customs beliefs and a way of life.
Cultural elements resemble how people dress, what they eat, what instruments they play, how they dance etc. This is particularly important in a globalized world where cultural nuances can easily be overlooked. We need this for cultural pride and dialogue as it also allows creativity that resonates locally and globally, blending with the new in innovative ways.
Looking at my song Wematongo, incorporating traditional elements helped me to ground the song story in its cultural context, making it more relatable and authentic for listeners familiar with that background while also offering something unique to those less familiar.
THC: What inspired you to make Wematongo?
HweMonga: The song was inspired by the need to express beauty of rural life and the power of dreams and imagination. The image of a boy herding cattle in the fields, finding moments of peace under a tree, and envisioning his future love through recurring dreams paints a vivid picture of innocence and longing.
The setting of Macheke village with its natural landscape and simplicity, serves as the perfect backdrop for a story about connection, hope, and the magic of youthful dreams. It's a reflection on how even in the most ordinary of places, extraordinary stories and emotions can unfold.
It’s a show of cultural heritage and historical relevance that helped shape the lives of young people as they grew up appreciating their traditional life through their day to day lives.
So, we may safely say the inspiration came from the need to express cultural appreciation within the elements that nurtured young life’s through the innocence of the things they inherited.
THC: How do you want people to interpret and understand Wematongo?
HweMonga: I want people to interpret the song as a celebration of hope, innocence, and the beauty of dreams. It's a reminder that no matter where we are in life, whether in a bustling city or a quiet village like Macheke, our dreams and desires can be powerful forces that shape our reality. The song speaks to the idea that love and connection can transcend time and space, finding us even in the most unexpected places.
I hope listeners see it as a story about the universal longing for companionship and the belief that our dreams, no matter how simple or far-fetched, have the power to guide us toward our destiny. It's also an invitation to appreciate our cultural heritage, the small moments in life, like resting under a tree or watching the sunset, and to find magic in the ordinary.
You can watch Wematongo by HweMonga below and share your views with the world:
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