By Showbiz Reporter –The Zimbabwean music fraternity is mourning the death of veteran bassist Clancy Mbirimi, who passed away over the weekend. His passing is a painful blow to the nation’s cultural fabric and a stark reminder of how swiftly our musical giants are vanishing.
Clancy Mbirimi was one of Zimbabwe’s longest-serving and most revered musicians. Known for his calm demeanour, deep musical insight, and masterful command of the bass guitar, Mbirimi’s influence resonated far beyond the stage.
A stalwart of Zimbabwe’s golden era of music, his career spanned several decades, during which he played in and collaborated with numerous iconic bands, most notably the legendary Harare Mambos.
Formed in the early 1970s, the Harare Mambos became one of the most influential bands in post-independence Zimbabwe. Their distinctive, jazz-infused Afro-pop sound, led by the late charismatic vocalist and guitarist Green Jangano, captured the imagination of a nation. Their music was a staple on radio and in live venues across Zimbabwe.
At the heart of that sound was Clancy Mbirimi’s rhythmic, melodic bass—a steady groove that gave the band its unique pulse. His playing brought depth and emotion to songs that fused township jazz, rhumba, and traditional Zimbabwean styles, helping define a generation’s musical identity.
Beyond the Harare Mambos, Mbirimi also shared a long and productive musical partnership with Steve “Dhongi” Makoni, the beloved humorist, singer, and acoustic storyteller. Their relationship went beyond the stage, with Clancy providing musical direction and bass accompaniment for many of Makoni’s performances and studio recordings. Their synergy was seamless—Clancy’s musical sensitivity providing the perfect foil to Makoni’s wit and lyrical storytelling.
Mbirimi was not only a performer but also a music producer who worked with various record labels over the years. In that role, he contributed quietly but significantly to the development of emerging Zimbabwean talent, shaping many careers from behind the scenes.
Renowned music producer Clive Mono Mukundu paid tribute to him in a heartfelt message, recalling how Clancy had been instrumental in launching his production career.
“In my book Following the Melody, I recount on page 145 how Clancy was the first to recognise my potential as a producer. He encouraged veteran producer Elias Msakwa to consider me for a role—an opportunity that became a turning point in my life. I owe him a great deal.”
Mukundu also reflected on their spiritual collaboration:
“We worked on several projects together over the years, and in 1999, Clancy and I were both part of the Revival Ministries Praise and Worship Team. His basslines, once again, anchored worship sessions that moved congregations deeply.”
Clancy Mbirimi’s death is more than the loss of a musician—it is the extinguishing of a vast, living archive of Zimbabwean musical knowledge and history. He was a gentle giant whose quiet, consistent contributions helped shape the nation’s sonic identity across generations.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.