Tshifhiwa Texo - down memory lane

Well-known multiple-award-winning Limpopo disco music sensation Tshifhiwa Texo Muzhelele of Khubvi village is no more.

Wilson Dzebu goes down memory lane, remembering the good times he shared with the late musician. Dzebu is the communications manager of Musina Municipality and he writes in his personal capacity.

I was working in my vegetable garden at my home village of Makonde when I suddenly heard a voice from the side of the main road. It said: “Hey, Mawiller, habe ano maduvha a ni tsha vhonala. Vulani gethe ndi dzhene ndi ni vhone mungana wanga.” (Loosely translated: You are scarce these day. Open the gate, so that I can come in and see you my friend). When I looked at the gate, I found that it was my old friend, Texo Munzhelele, who was calling. I was not surprised because he is one of my countless friends who affectionately call me Mawiller. I joyfully opened the gate and we exchanged lots of stories, both general and about his music career. I did not know that it was my final moment to see him alive!

I was still a full-time bassist with Shufflers when I met Texo for the first time. He was a keyboard player for Kaizer Nethengwe (aka Ali K) and they used to rehearse at Makonde Tshithuthuni in a mud hut provided by insurance broker Nndweleni Mankhili. A very talented keyboard player and a vocalist in his own right, I was not surprised when he released his first solo disco album, Ri twa makete, in 2000.  “Please, Mawiller, make sure that this album is promoted by writing something in the newspaper.”

After a week, he came back to me and said: “Mawiller, thank you so much. I saw myself for the first time in the newspaper. Since my appearance in the newspaper, the album is selling like hot cakes and it is receiving massive play on the radio. You have done a very good job, my friend; keep up the good work.”

I just smiled and let him go as there was nothing more fulfilling than making someone happy. One thing I liked about Texo is that he never changed the style of his disco music, despite the modern trends of the emerging new music genres. 

Ri twa makete was followed by other successful disco albums, such as Ndo guda, Khonani dzanga, Diphineni and Vhatikedzi. Texo would call me after releasing each album and I would make sure that the story was covered in the newspaper, because he regarded me as his personal journalist.

Last week while I was travelling from Makonde to Musina when my mobile phone rang. When I looked at the screen, I observed that it was one of my bosom friends, Chief Thinawanga Randima of Khubvi village. He said: “My friend, I have bad news for you. Texo Munzhelele was found dead in his room this morning. This is very bad and the whole village is fully covered with a dark cloud of mourning. Everyone is so down, including members of Mudaswali United Brothers soccer team, of which he was a staunch supporter.”

I couldn’t believe my ears, but as the hours went by, I had to accept the reality that Texo had passed on. I remember his quotes in one of our earlier interviews. He said: “This industry needs someone who is tolerant and hardworking. You need to be focused and be able to read what your fans need. The only secret for success is to work hard and listen to positive criticism.”

One of the saddest moments in my life recently was while I was speaking to Texo’s grieving mother, Josephine Munzhelele, earlier this week. “Every parent will agree with me that it is very sad to lose a child. At his age of 40 years, I was still expecting a lot of good things from him. Despite the fact that he has put the family name on the musical map, we will miss him every day of our lives.  He was such a wonderful gift from God, but his sudden departure resembles a deep wound that will take a long time to heal.”  

Indeed, Texo has joined the heavenly league of late Tshivenda musicians such as Avhashoni Albert Mundalamo Tshikundamalema, Nndanganeni Daniel Luambo, Bonndo Kiss Munyai, Tshivhangwaho Raedani, Ntshengedzeni Mamphodo, Mpho Regalo, April Ramufhi, Nyelisani Singo  and Thinyadziwi Ranwedzi, to name but a few.

He will be buried tomorrow morning (Saturday 20 August) at Ha-Lambani Pfukoni village. May his soul rest in peace!

Date:19 August 2016

By: News Correspondent

Correspondent journalists from all over the region supply us with news and sport articles. 

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