Stella Chiweshe (also Stella Rambisai Chiweshe, Stella Rambisai Chiweshe Ne… Read Full Bio ↴Stella Chiweshe (also Stella Rambisai Chiweshe, Stella Rambisai Chiweshe Nekati, or Stella Nekati Chiweshe, b. Mujumi Village, Mhondoro, Zimbabwe, November 8, 1946) is a Zimbabwean musician. She is internationally known for her singing and playing of the mbira dzavadzimu, a traditional instrument of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. She is one of the few female players of the instrument, which she learned to play in the mid-1960s when even fewer females played the instrument. In 1989, she starred in I Am the Future, a Godwin Mawuru film about a young woman who travels to the big city to escape Zimbabwe's independence war in the rural areas.

Nehondo
Stella Chiweshe Lyrics

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Hiye inga, hore inga, inga woye

Hiye inga, hore inga, inga woye
Ihe, ihe

Hiye inga, hiye inga woye
Kure, kure, kure, kure, kure, kure

Mutauro

Huye, iye, huye inga huye ambuya

Huye, iye, huye, here inga ambuya
Inga mbuya makatiyambutsa rukova ambuya

Mbuya makatiyambutsa rukova ambuya

Iye, iye, here inga, inga hoye ambuya

Iye, iye, here inga, inga hoye ambuyawe

Kure, kure, kure, kure, kure, kure
Rukwenengwene

Iye, iye, here inga, inga hoye ayi

Iye, iye, here inga, inga hoye
Ndinokumbira masimba ane utare
Mwana wapinda nemwenje mudziva

Hi-ih, hi-ih, hi-ih, hi-ih, hi-ih

Hi-ih, hi-ih, hi-ih, hi-ih, hi-ih
Ndapinda nemwenje mudziva

Guka, guka, guka, guka, guka, guka, guka, guka, guka

Ngairobwe

Iye, iye, here inga, inga hoye, iye iye iye
Vanotiyambutsa rukova

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Stella Chiweshe's song "Nehondo" are primarily in Shona, one of the major languages spoken in Zimbabwe. The song explores themes of war, strength, and perseverance.

The repeated lines "Hiye inga, hore inga, inga woye" can be interpreted as a call for resilience and courage. The word "inga" can be translated as "warrior" or "hero," emphasizing the idea of facing challenges head-on. The repetition of "hiye" and "hore" serves to reinforce this message and create a sense of urgency.

The verse "Huye, iye, huye inga huye ambuya" suggests that the singer is calling upon a respected elder, possibly a grandmother or ancestral spirit, for guidance and protection. The use of "ambuya" (grandmother) adds a touch of reverence and ancestral connection to the song.

The phrase "Ndinokumbira masimba ane utare" can be translated as "I am asking for strength and courage." This line reveals the vulnerability of the singer, acknowledging the need for assistance in overcoming challenges. The mention of "mwenje mudziva" further signifies the presence of obstacles that the singer has encountered, portraying a sense of resilience and determination.

Overall, "Nehondo" is a song that conveys a call to bravery and summons the strength to face adversity with the support of ancestral spirits.

Line by Line Meaning

Hiye inga, hore inga, inga woye
Listen, my friend, listen carefully

Ihe, ihe
Yes, yes

Hiye inga, hiye inga woye
Listen, listen carefully

Kure, kure, kure, kure, kure, kure
Far, far, far, far, far, far

Mutauro
Language

Huye, iye, huye inga huye ambuya
Come, yes, come my grandmother

Huye, iye, huye, here inga ambuya
Come, yes, come, my grandmother

Inga mbuya makatiyambutsa rukova ambuya
My grandmother taught me wisdom

Mbuya makatiyambutsa rukova ambuya
Grandmother taught me wisdom

Iye, iye, here inga, inga hoye ambuya
Yes, yes, come, come my grandmother