Antony Chawagarira
GOROMONZI – Renowned mbira musician and Zimbabwe tourism ambassador for German-speaking countries, Virginia Mkwesha-Hetze, will celebrate her 60th birthday this weekend with a cultural gathering at her rural homestead in Goromonzi District, bringing together local and international guests in a celebration of Zimbabwe’s rich heritage.
The daughter of the late mbira icon Stella Chiweshe and former Zimbabwe football star Freddy Mkwesha, Mkwesha-Hetze said the event would not only mark a personal milestone but also promote Zimbabwe’s culture and tourism.
She said about 130 guests had been invited, including approximately 20 international visitors from Germany, Mexico, Indonesia and Mozambique, who would have an opportunity to experience Zimbabwe’s cultural traditions and hospitality.
“In addition to celebrating my birthday, I want our international visitors to experience the beauty, warmth and rich cultural heritage that Zimbabwe has to offer,” she said.
The celebrations are expected to attract senior Government officials, traditional leaders, tourism stakeholders, representatives from the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, members of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Board, Chief Chikwaka, local leadership and fellow artistes.
Mkwesha-Hetze has spent nearly five decades performing and promoting Zimbabwean traditional music on the international stage, continuing the legacy of her mother, Stella Chiweshe, who was widely recognised as one of the country’s pioneering female mbira players.
She began playing the mbira at the age of 12 under the guidance of her mother and has since developed a distinguished career dedicated to preserving and promoting Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage through music.
Her late mother broke cultural barriers by becoming one of Zimbabwe’s first internationally acclaimed female mbira dzavadzimu performers and helped popularise the traditional instrument across the world through performances at major international festivals.
The birthday celebration is expected to highlight the important role of arts and culture in promoting Zimbabwe as a tourism destination while honouring a family whose contribution to the country’s music, sport and cultural heritage continues to inspire future generations.
