A LOT of things happen and befall people in their journey of life.Sometimes they wonder why certain things happen and take another turn. Some people even regret and become bitter when life gets sour, while others soldier on hoping to see light at the end of a tunnel.
But songbird Tina Nomsa Watyoka believes in her destiny despite the odds staked against her.
From being an orphan, failed marriage and single parenting to pursuing the education of her dreams, she remains a proud mother who is currently enjoying life as a university lecturer.
NewsDay Weekender caught up with the musician, who shared the other side of her life away from the recording studio.
Early life
Before music, I was just a girl next door from Chitungwiza minding her own business. I was raised by my community mothers after my parents passed away.
They shaped, groomed and nurtured me as they kept me out of trouble as an orphan. I picked up a lot of good things from these women and I try to do the same with the younger generation that I live with.
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I got married at 21. It was a decision that I made with my ex-husband. We discussed it because of my situation at home which was getting worse by the day. However, life chose a different path for me, so now I am a single mother of a 15-year-old daughter Anisha Tanyaradzwa.
When you are an orphan, sometimes things do not really happen according to plan. My former husband came and customarily paid lobola. I do not regret marriage because I was married to a man who used to love me and our daughter.
When a certain path does not belong to you, there is nothing you can do about it. Things that broke our marriage were beyond our control and involved parents.
Sometimes children end up listening to their parents. That is what happened to us. I do not regret even for a single day having been married to that man, he was good to me.
Single parenting
I have been trying to make sure that my daughter gets everything, from going to a better school to having all her needs provided for.
I do not do this to keep her away from getting married early, but what I know is when you get a better education and your parents are providing everything for you, not being spoiled per se, you will make the right decisions at the right time.
Tanyaradzwa has always been that baby who never gave me problems, but with these “ama 2000s”, you just need to leave it to the Lord. Being a career woman and a mother at the same time is not an easy task, but if you put your priorities right everything falls into place.
Soothing
I take a break from everyday tasks by going to my plot in Mhondoro, which is around 8km from the Mhondoro-Ngezi turn-off. I find it very peaceful there and less chaotic. I live a very boring life, I love being indoors watching a good movie, drinking or eating something.
I love braaing at my house and sometimes hanging out with my friends and family who like being indoors just like I do. It may be boring, but that is good, interesting and amazing.
Lately, I have been avoiding crowded places such as big events that happen in the country. As much as I would love to go there, a lot of bad things might happen, so I would rather stay at home.
I got a lot of attention when I got into music and that made me realise the places I should be and some I should not be at all.
Venturing into farming, other projects
When our parents died, they left us a house in Chitungwiza, but they did not leave a piece of land for me and my brother.
I have always wanted a place to call my rural home and that was the motivation to secure a piece of land. We come from Rusape, but we do not have a piece of land there. Our father did not secure that for us.
I made sure I get one for me and my brother as well as our children so we can have a place to get away and enjoy each other’s company.
The idea of farming came into being with the size of the land. I just thought to myself this land is very huge, let us make something that can be profitable.
I have ventured into poultry, goat farming, piggery and also a greenhouse, where I am farming tomatoes and green beans so far. I try to prioritise these projects. As long as I am not working, I will be in Mhondoro taking care of my projects.
The projects have been slow, but not bad. I would say it is the best decision that I have made. Maybe in the next few years when I am mobile enough, I will be able to bring my supplies to Harare and other places nearby.
Right now, I am providing and selling to people around Mhondoro since I am not mobile enough to take my produce outside. I started these projects so I can find a place to hide away sometimes.
My cousin takes care of the farming when I am not around. I would not say I employed him, but it is like a partnership because they do most of the work in my absence.
I have other projects that I have been working on. I love leather products. Besides shoes, there is a project that I am doing with my brother making leather bags, so I have a leather line that is coming out very soon.
Education, becoming a university lecturer
Being an orphan, I struggled to further my studies. I then got a scholarship to go back to school because I had not done Advanced Level. I studied at the Zimbabwe College of Music and then Midlands State University for my undergraduate and masters degree.
Later on, I found myself at the University of Zimbabwe as a lecturer. When you are destined for a certain path, things happen following that path.
Becoming a lecturer has been a blessing. I have been trying to do the same things for girls who approach me, I help whenever I can whether it is financially or assisting them to get a scholarship and follow destiny.
Right now, I am working on my PhD. I would love to become a doctor that can speak in front of up-and-coming musicians and musicologists like me.
Balancing my career and professional work has been a challenge because during the day, I am marking, scheduling, co-ordinating and stuff that happens at university.
I need a good sleep. Once I recharge, I will be ready to do my things all over again. My image has been quite positive for my students because there are some courses that require them to do practical performances. So, to make life easier for them to understand what happens on stage, I take them to my shows.
Perception of youths in college
I have seen a lot of young people who do not know what they want to do after college. They think they come to college to date and break up and the circle goes on like that.
Some of them really do not take school seriously, it is like a paid holiday by their parents to just go on some island and have fun. I try to nurture the ones that I teach, motivating and inspiring them. However, there are some young people at tertiary institutions who have positive minds.
Word of advice to students
They must put education first and if possible, get married later.
