SEVENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Violet Nyamakawe still possesses her youthful eye-catching looks which once attracted the late renowned and unheralded Hurungwe drummer and magician Guu Musarurwa, popularly known as Bhuroko Ndimambara.
Sadly, it has come to pass that Nyamakawe’s good looks could not stop the late traditional drum-beater from turning her into a thumping drum.
When NewsDay Weekender recently broke the story of the uncelebrated Musarurwa, a Hurungwe-based magician who left an indelible mark in Mashonaland West province communities, little did the publication know that the extraordinary drum-pounder and trickster had a dark side.
While he appears to be a common village trickster who played a combination of more than seven traditional drums producing melodious and captivating sounds which mesmerised onlookers during traditional rituals, when NewsDay Weekender tracked down the late magician’s ex-wife to Magunje’s ward 13 she revealed a hidden secret about her former husband.
Nyamakawe revealed that he divorced Bhuroko Ndimambara over abuse, ending a 10-year union with the legendary traditional rituals entertainer.
They sired three children, who are all now late.
In an interview punctuated with nostalgic memories of love and bitterness, she said: “I divorced him over physical abuse. One of his tricks was for people to fight among themselves. He was a great fighter and I became his punch bag.”
With her voice withdrawn as if the late Musarurwa’s shadow was listening to the conversation, she continued: “I divorced him due to his violent and abusive nature. He was too jealous even with his own young brother, who he suspected of having an affair with me. He wanted to kill him. I could not take it anymore.”
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The interview was a little complex given that she has long remarried and her children from the current marriage never knew about her first disastrous marriage.
“Although Bhuroko paid the bride price in full, I told my parents that the marriage could not continue because of his brutality. I moved away from him besides his pleas to reunite,” she said.
The late trick master passed on from suspected poisoning a few years after Nyamakawe divorced him.
“He came to me in a dream and said goodbye. I never attended the funeral, but his body changed into charcoal black. His grave is there in the Mahwada area under Chief Dandawa,” recalled Nyamakawe.
Despite having endured 10 years of serious physical abuse, Nyamakawe cannot help, but fondly reminiscence over some of the Hurungwe’s grandmaster magician’s exploits.
“I was Bhuroko’s first wife. His other name was Black Chihuri, though Bhuroko Ndimambara became popular because of his tricks. We were married in 1963. Our firstborn child was called Biggie, born in 1965. The late Bhuroko was also called Baba Biggie,” she added.
The second son, Ruvengo, was born in 1967 and the third born was a girl, Fari, born in 1970.
She remembers her late husband being buried several times, only to be seen later walking around.
“At one time, he ordered people to dig up a grave. He was buried alive and in a few moments, he was seen coming from the nearby bush. The grave had vanished,” she recalled,
“He would plant maize in a few minutes that could be harvested and consumed by onlookers during the traditional ceremonies. At one time, he was burnt alive in a grass-thatched hut. In a decade that I was married to him, I can’t recall how many times he died and was buried,” she said, adding: “At one time, he became pregnant and gave birth to a live child.”
Her present husband Wilson Marimerime (93), who gladly joined in the conversation with NewsDay Weekender, said the late magician’s other antics included cutting his own tongue, throwing it on the floor, and getting free beer from thrilled onlookers. “He made several breath-taking tricks during his time. He was part of untold stories in Hurungwe. I am happy that I married his former wife, but he never did anything to separate us until he passed on. I won despite his magic, although I don’t have any black magic,” he said, breaking into laughter.
Bhuroko used to ply his trade in Magunje, Kazangarare and surrounding areas under Chiefs Mudzimu, Dandawa and Dendera among others.
He composed his own songs which are still popular during traditional ceremonies in the Hurungwe district.
