In a heart-wrenching moment during a much-anticipated performance on Sunday evening, renowned Zimbabwean musician Alick Macheso abruptly ended his show at Jongwe Corner following the tragic news of fellow artist Tatenda Pinjisi’s untimely death.
The event, which also featured performances from Selmor Mtukudzi, was a family-oriented gathering that quickly turned somber with the shocking announcement.
As Macheso enthralled the audience with his energetic stage presence, he was interrupted by a member of the audience who rushed to deliver the devastating news.
An accident en route to Kadoma had claimed the lives of Pinjisi’s drummer and rhythmist, and it was later confirmed that Pinjisi had also tragically succumbed to his injuries.
Macheso, visibly shaken, paused and shared his grief with the crowd. “Ndapererwa, asimwarika,” he lamented, grappling with disbelief as he recounted the events. “I am now hearing that Tatenda has followed his bandmates and the passenger.” The crowd fell silent, united in sorrow for the loss of a talented fellow musician.
In a poignant tribute, Macheso took a moment to honor Pinjisi’s legacy by performing one of his popular tracks, “Saina.”
Sitting next to his drummer, he expressed his deep sense of loss, stating, “Because if this is true, we just say God is the one who knows why.”
The emotional weight of the evening became evident as Macheso, who has often been a pillar of strength in the music community, chose to step away, leaving his Orchestra Mberikwazvo band members to conclude the performance.
