Stella Manatsa
Stella Manatsa | |
---|---|
Zex (left) and Stella (right) Manatsa | |
Born | Stella Katehwe Mhangura, Zimbabwe |
Occupation | Pastor |
Organization | ZAOGA FIF |
Known for | Filling up Rufaro Stadium during their white wedding on 25 August 1979 |
Spouse(s) | Zex Manatsa |
Children | Green Manatsa, Aaron, Tendai Manatsa, Freedom, Shingirai, Taku Zex Jr |
Relatives | Selmor Mtukudzi, Sharon Manatsa |
Stella Manatsa (nee Katehwe) was the wife of the late Zimbabwean musician Zex Manatsa.
She died in her sleep on 30 August 2022, eight months following the death of her husband.[1]
Background
The Manatsas lost their house in Southerton, cars and other properties. Stella Manatsa and her husband decided to turn to God in 1994 when they had relocated to Bulawayo. They both enrolled for theological training a year later and became ZAOGA FIF Church pastors in 1998. They served the church in various suburbs including Westgate.[2]
Wedding At Rufaro Stadium
Stella and Zex Manatsa had their wedding at Rufaro Stadium on August 25, 1979. Thomas Mapfumo, Tineyi Chikupo, Manu Kambami and many others performed on the day. Oliver Mtukudzi was supposed to perform but he had an urgent commitment on the day. There were drum majorettes near Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s Mbare studios that accompanied the convoy to Rufaro. [2] Zex Manatsa's promoter Jack Sadza called the wedding the Wedding of the Year and chose Rufaro Stadium as the venue for the wedding, and fans paid $1 each to witness the ceremony.[3]
Children
Stella and Zex Manatsa had six sons: the firstborn is called Green the other sons are Aaron and Benjamin. Zex Manatsa said he named his firstborn Green after his band and the other two names were meant to rhyme with ‘‘arrows’’ and ‘‘band’’ respectively to replicate Green Arrows Band. Their other sons are; Freedom[3], Shingirai and Taku Zex.
References
- ↑ Late music icon Zex Manatsa’s widow, Stella, dies, NewZimbabwe.com, Published: 30 August, 2022, Retrieved 1 September 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Godwin Muzari, Manatsa revisits legendary Rufaro wedding, The Herald, Published: May 17, 2018, Retrieved: January 19, 2022
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Zexie Manatsa story, The Standard, Published: July 19, 2020, Retrieved: January 20, 2022