Performed by Mhuri YeKwaChigamba
I still remember that when I composed “Bembero” (Celebration) my wife said to me, “Is that still a mbira song, that one?” I said, “It will do! It is a mbira song.” She said, “People will laugh at you!” Now, I was embarrassed to play it, because she said I would be laughed at.
Then I went to Chitungwiza, and I played it there. And we didn’t play any other songs apart from that very one, “Bembero.” All night long, “Just play it again! Play it again, play it again, play it again!” Finally she realized, “Oh, truly, this is a mbira song, and one that is very much appreciated!”
If we played “Bembero” when we were at Mai Donnie’s house, even the midzimu spirits would dance in a different way, in a manner difficult to comprehend. I said, “Oh, that dancing!” Because if a person didn’t have a mudzimu spirit, you wouldn’t join in the dancing. You couldn’t just join in the dancing, no! They were dancing very forcefully, in a celebratory way.
Then I eventually said, “It should be called ‘Bembero,’ because upon hearing it, people rejoice.” Then VaChihoro said, “Oh, yes, it is true, this song is stirring!” I said, “Now you see, it is exciting!” She said, “It is exciting.”
I didn’t know “Bembero” would be so successful, but even when we recorded, we recorded “Bembero” and “Ngozi Yemuroora.” It spent the whole year in the top twenty. So that is how I composed “Bembero.”