Tawanda Marwizi
Prolific traditional drummer Douglas Vambe has died.
Vambe (77) died this morning at Parirenyatwa Hospital after suffering from an undisclosed illness.
Details of the funeral arrangements were still sketchy as the family was still to meet.
Vambe is the man behind the popular Jerusarema/Mbende drumbeat that accompanies news bulletins on the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, radio and TV stations.
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe director Nicholas Moyo said they were saddened by Vambe’s death.
“He was a man par excellence in playing his drum that identifies the Jerusarema Mbede dance. We are saddened by his death,” said Moyo.
He said Vambe was passionate in the preservation of culture and heritage.
Born on August 2, 1942 in Magunje village, Uzumba District, Vambe made several strides with his drum.
In 2008, he went to the United Kingdom where he performed at the Birmingham International Arts Festival and he managed to share stage with renowned R&B artist R Kelly and Colombian sensation Shakira at the 2010 Fifa World Cup finals in South Africa.
Mbende/jerusarema dance is a popular dance style practiced by the Zezuru Shona people living in the Murehwa and Uzumba, Maramba and Pfungwe districts in eastern Zimbabwe.
