Coronavirus claims mbira legend, Cosmas Magaya’s life.
Musicologist and researcher Cosmas Magaya was laid to rest early this week as he succumbed to Covid-19.
By Pamela Munyoro
According to family spokesperson and last born to the late mbira teacher, Mudavanhu Magaya, they only established that his father had tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday when the second batch of results came.
Magaya (67), died in Mhondoro and had no history of travel in recent months.
Nine family members from Cosmas’ family had since been tested for Covid-19 and still waiting for results to come back.
“Prior to the death of our father, the rapid reaction results conducted on him showed that he had tested negative for Covid-19.
“However, further results that were conducted at Lancet Laboratories showed it was indeed Covid-19 and we got them on Saturday.
“We had to go ahead with the burial and alerted people that there was no need for them to come to the funeral since our father had tested positive for Covid-19,” he said.
Mudavanhu said they will adhere to the Covid-19 regulations as tests and contact tracing is being done by health experts.
“At the moment we are just at home waiting for results and the way forward. It’s a bit scary to the family members, but as a man, I have learnt to be strong so that I welcome any results they are to deliver. Being a new disease, people tend to panic and my family members here are also scared, but it is my hope that we will manage to handle it,” he said.
Mudawavanhu went on to say:”To date, we have received a lot of support from fellow musicians like Thomas Mapfumo, Mbira DzeNharira, Maungira eNharira, his students from America and local arts regulatory chiefs who knew mdara.”
“He was indeed a favourite of many judging by the support he received,” he said.
As a reciprocal gesture, Mudavanhu said, a big bira will be conducted in honour of the late mbira player once the Covid-19 situation recedes.
“We would want to remember him with a massive show in the future once the Covid-19 era is over.Mdara was a teacher and musicologist who taught many students and his legacy needs to be protected,” he said.
Mudavanhu, being the only son of the late gwenyambira said he was ready to work with his family and follow in their father’s footsteps.
“I am the only son in the family and I have three sisters of which one of them, Tsitsi, born in 1979, is in the US, while Matilda, and Rutendo are here in Zimbabwe.
“As a family, we have accepted that Covid-19 is real, but we will be strong with each passing day.
“We will be stronger once the results come and we are ready to keep our father’s legacy alive,” he said.
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