From Spotlight to Struggle: Why Tererai Mugwadi Deserves Our Compassion
By Oudney Patsika | Sona Headlines
I don’t even know how to put my feelings into words. Normally, I would have laughed it off and moved on, but this time something just broke inside me. After repeatedly bumping into that same video of Tererai Mugwadi on my timeline, my heart sank.
There she was, a defining voice of our youth, struggling on stage. This isn't a moment for ridicule; it's a call for compassion.
A Painful Performance to Witness
The video, taken at Shoko Festival, shows Tererai in a state that is deeply concerning. She appears heavily intoxicated or unwell, struggling to open her mouth, let alone sing the very songs that once defined a generation. Watching her in that state felt like watching a once bright star flicker painfully in the darkness. To see an artist of her calibre being held up while holding a mic is heartbreaking.
For me, the worst part is that the people around her—the organisers, the management, friends, family—did absolutely nothing. Instead of stepping in when it was clear she was struggling, they tried to drown her voice with playback, hoping to cover the damage. But the damage was already done.
They left her exposed, vulnerable, and alone on that stage. How could they? If I were Tererai, as much as I would be accountable for my own state, I would feel like I have no one.
A Legacy Remembered
Tererai used to be one of the most powerful female voices in Zimbabwe. She carried herself with grace and class. During the whole Chamhembe era, she had a certain presence, an aura. Her song "Waenda" is still one of the greatest songs ever sung by a Zimbabwean female artist. It wasn't just a love song for me; it was about dreaming of a better life, a young child in the streets of Mbare who had dreams that felt impossible. Her voice was powerful, and it gave me strength.
She was educated, talented, and admired. She was the girl who had everything going for her. And then, life happened. The scandals, the silence, the rumours of substance abuse, and the slow fade from the spotlight. Seeing her like this now confirms that something has been deeply wrong for a long time. Whatever it is, she needs help. Real help. Not judgement, not gossip. Help.
A Call for Support, Not Scorn
It breaks my heart to think how things could have gone differently if someone had intervened earlier. Personally, I wish there had been real consequences when the stories of alcoholism and drugs first started—not to punish her, but to save her. Maybe forced rehabilitation could have restored her. She deserved support. She deserved protection.
Her team should be held accountable. How do you leave someone on stage like that? Artists like Winky D have managers who watch everything, who step in before disaster strikes. That’s what an artist deserves. That’s what Tererai deserved.
It’s easy to laugh at someone else’s struggles when they are not in your own home. But as a nation, we should be deeply concerned when we see a once-powerful voice fading away. We must not laugh about mental health issues. Safe spaces are built when we show concern and ask, "What can we do?" In our culture, when there is a problem in the family, the whole village gathers. Where is the village for Tererai?
A Final Thought
This whole thing just sits heavy on my heart. Not because of the gossip, but because behind all of this is a human being—a once-great voice—now struggling in front of the whole world.
I wish you well, Tererai. If a fund is mobilized for your recovery, I will support it. You are powerful, and you are not defined by where you are now. Your music connected with our hearts, and now our hearts must connect with you.
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