GOGO CHIHERA, THE WOMAN WHO GAVE US TONGAI MOYO, DIES JUST SIX YEARS SHORT OF A CENTURY

Gogo Chihera, the mother of late sungura superstar Tongai Moyo, has died at the age of 94. She passed away yesterday afternoon at her rural home in Sosombe, Zhombe, after a long battle with asthma. Tongai Moyo died on October 15, 2011, at St Anne’s Hospital in Harare, and his mother lived for 14 more years.

Gogo Chihera has been described as the glue that kept the family together after Tongai's death. Musicians, promoters, and fans are paying tribute to the woman they say was the quiet force behind one of Zimbabwe’s biggest musical stars. Social media feeds have been flooded with messages praising her influence on Tongai’s legendary career, with some people describing her as “the mother of sungura” and the “hidden power behind the hits.”

Family spokesperson Obert Moyo, her grandson, described Gogo Chihera as the pillar of strength for the Moyo family. “Gogo had been unwell for some time, but her strength never left her,” Obert said. “She was our pillar — not just as a mother and grandmother, but as a teacher of values, humility, and resilience.” Follow & Share Our WhatsApp Channel

The family has opened channels for those wishing to support them. “Those willing to support can contact us on 0773640632,” the family said. “Every gesture, big or small, is deeply appreciated. Gogo lived a full life. All we ask now is dignity as we lay her to rest. We thank the nation for standing with us in this time of grief.”

Tongai Moyo rose to fame with hits like ‘Naye’, ‘Samanyemba’, and ‘Muchina Muhombe’, and led Utakataka Express Band, building a career celebrated for storytelling, social commentary, and cultural pride .

Family members say Tongai’s discipline and values came from his mother. “Gogo Chihera shaped the man Tongai became,” said a family elder. “She raised him to respect people, culture, and hard work. His success came from her guidance.” Fellow musicians and fans have been paying their condolences, with one artist writing, “When we lost Tongai, we lost a giant. Now we have lost the woman who gave us that giant. May her soul rest in peace.”

Cultural commentators say Gogo Chihera represented a generation of women whose sacrifices are rarely recognized, yet whose influence shaped the Zimbabwean arts sector. “She may not have been on stage, but her impact was,” said one arts commentator. “These are the women who raised icons, often in silence.”