Popular traditional drummer Douglas Vambe who died at Parirenyatwa Hospital on Wednesday last week was buried at his home in Magunje area in Uzumba yesterday.

It was an emotional send off for Vambe as people from all walks of life converged at the Vambe homestead in Uzumba to bid farewell to the ambassador of Jerusarema-Mbende dance.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Dr Thokozile Chitepo who worked with Vambe when she was in the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) board and Zanu PF politburo member Dr Sydney Sekeramayi described Vambe as a hero in the arts industry who gave the Zimbabwean people their cultural identity.

“I worked with Vambe when I was still in the NACZ board and he was such a devoted artist who gave Zimbabweans their cultural identity,” said Dr Chitepo.

“Vambe was a dedicated artist who played his part in popularising the Jerusarema-Mbende dance which is now popular worldwide,” Dr Sekeramayi said.

Uzumba constituency legislator Simbaneuta Mudarikwa and the area’s traditional leader Chief Nyajinya said Uzumba is proud to have produced an artist like Vambe.

“Uzumba area has produced some of the country’s arts heroes including Jah Prayzah and Andy Muridzo and we are proud of that,” he said.

Chief Nyajinya said: “Although a lot of people think that Jerusarema-Mbende dance is from Murewa, it is actually from Uzumba area which is where it originated.”

The funeral was also attended by senior government and Zanu PF officials who include Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa, Commander Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Retired Major General Paradzai Zimondi, Zanu PF provincial chairman Joel Matiza and legislators from the province.

Zbc News Online