A wave of sorrow has swept through Zimbabwe’s music scene as news of the passing of Eunice Mashakada, widow of the legendary musician Cephas Mashakada, spread across the nation. Gogo Mashakada, as she was affectionately known, succumbed to kidney failure at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in the early hours of Monday morning. She was 63.
The news of her passing comes as a heavy blow to the family and the wider community who remember her as a pillar of strength, a dedicated matriarch, and a tireless supporter of her late husband’s musical legacy.
“We have lost Gogo Mashakada who was a family pillar and provider,” said Faith Taruvinga, family spokesperson. “In my capacity as her grandchild, I have lost a friend who was always there for me. She was a fighter who battled this illness for some time, although we wished that she would make it.”
Gogo Mashakada’s passing comes at a time when she was working to revive her late husband’s music, a testament to her enduring love and dedication to his memory. She was a tireless advocate for his music, ensuring that his legacy would live on for generations to come.
The loss of Gogo Mashakada is a profound one, not just for her family but for the entire nation. Her life was a testament to resilience, love, and the power of music to bring people together. She was a woman who embodied the spirit of Zimbabwe, a spirit of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Cephas Mashakada, a celebrated musician known for his soulful voice and captivating stage presence, left an indelible mark on Zimbabwean music. His music was a reflection of the nation’s spirit, its joys and sorrows, its hopes and dreams. His passing in 2011 left a void in the hearts of many, a void that Gogo Mashakada worked tirelessly to fill.
Gogo Mashakada’s passing is a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing those we love. It is also a reminder of the enduring power of music to transcend boundaries and connect people across generations.
Her legacy will live on not only through the music of her late husband but also through the lives she touched and the love she shared.
Mourners are gathered along Mabika Way near Ziko Shopping Centre in Seke, where they are paying their respects to a woman who lived a life of love, dedication, and unwavering support for her family and the arts.
Gogo Mashakada will be laid to rest within 48 hours at Zororo Memorial Park in Chitungwiza on Wednesday, where she will join her beloved husband in the annals of Zimbabwean musical history. Her passing is a loss for the nation, but her spirit, like her husband’s music, will continue to resonate in the hearts of all who knew her.
Some years ago, she penned the poignant “Shungu Dzangu,” a song that resonated with the nation’s grief after her husband’s passing, as she was reportedly battling health complications and family disputes.
A close relative, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed in 2016 that Eunice had been experiencing significant stress, culminating in a mild stroke that she suffered in the same year. “A lot has been going on in her life, and to be honest, she is always stressed. Since the death of her husband, she has been having problems with relatives among other issues,” the relative shared at the time.
The now late Gogo Mashakada, while confirming her health struggles, remained tight-lipped about the specific sources of her distress. “Since the death of Baba (Mashakada), I have not been well because a lot of things have been affecting me. I wish to get back to my feet and release albums to fulfil my husband’s wish,” she said, her voice tinged with a weariness that echoed the challenges she faces.
When pressed for details, she simply stated, “Ndirikurarama ne nyasha dzaMwari mwanangu (I am living by the grace of God my son),” highlighting a deep faith that sustains her through these difficult times.
Adding to the weight of her struggles that she had been facing for years, sources indicated that a strained relationship with her stepdaughters, Memory and Miriam, continued to cast a shadow over her life. The source of the discord stemmed from the control of the band “Sounds of the Muddy Face,” a legacy left behind by Cephas Mashakada when he passed away in 2011.
