Online Reporter
Forward Nyanyiwa in CARLOW, Ireland
Chiedza Mapfumo told H-Metro that the family’s decision to come out in the open, with the directive to bar Makore, was the culmination of a lengthy period in which they had tried to settle the dispute within the family.
Makore is Mukanya’s nephew.
Chiedza also revealed that she last spoke to Makore “years ago.”
And, given that they are relatives, it probably casts a spotlight on the fractured nature of this family.
“I never spoke to Kurai about his music. I last spoke to him years ago,” she told H-Metro.
“He has been in direct communication with Mr Mapfumo, who has told him on numerous occasions to compose his own music and make his own path. “Kurai’s relationship to Mr Mapfumo is irrelevant to me.
“I have never spoken about that to him or anyone.
“What matters is Mr Mapfumo’s intellectual property and how it is affected when people perform his music without obtaining licensing.
“We are in a digital era and musicians like Mr Mapfumo make their money from royalties mostly collected from the digital space.
“We are also concerned with preserving his catalogue so as to avoid confusion on what songs are actually his.”
H-Metro has been inundated with sensational accusations and counter accusations of dishonesty, jealousy, cheating and “copyright robbery” which have resulted in cracks within the Chimurenga music empire.
Following the cease and desist letter issued by the Chimurenga Music Company, barring Makore from performing his uncle’s songs, H-Metro has been given an extraordinary and intimate insight into the Chimurenga music empire – and there are lots of skeletons in the closet, apparently.
Chimurenga Music company manager, Cuthbert Chiromo, is said to have played a big role in the latest developments.
Apart from banning Makore from performing Mukanya’s songs, the letter also threatens promoters and venues from booking Makore and then letting him play Mukanya’s songs.
The letter also criticised the media for labelling Makore as the Chimurenga music heir and suggesting that Mukanya endorsed such a coronation.
H-Metro has been told that Chiedza and her mother are playing leading roles in the spectacular fallout between Mukanya and his nephew.
“This is not Mukanya’s decision, no,” said a source.
“It is a public secret that Mukanya personally endorsed Kurai Makore long back and the boy has been carrying over the legacy as per the vow he gave to his uncle to keep the Chimurenga music legacy afloat.
“Mukanya is only outspoken in the public and exhibits some bravado which l feel is fake.
“The old man is a slave in his own house. He doesn’t even say a word and follows everything that his wife and daughter tells him.”
Mapfumo 81, recently accepted a US$1m offer from businessman Wicknell Chivayo to play at Jah Prayzah’s wedding and Chivayo’s birthday.
Chiromo was praised by Chivayo for the role he played in the negotiations which ended with Mukanya accepting the offer.
He was given a Toyota Fortuner for his efforts in securing the US$1million deal for Mukanya.
There have been allegations that Chiromo has secretly acquired majority shares in the Chimurenga Music Company and has thrust himself into a position to have total control of Mukanya’s music empire in the future.
However, Chiromo, who has worked with Mukanya for a very long time, denies this.
He has described Makore as a “cheat” and an ‘arrogant copyright robber’ who has been lying all along that he is the rightful heir to Chimurenga music.
“Where is the written agreement that Mukanya gave his consent to let Kurai play his songs? “There is nothing in writing suggesting that,” he told H-Metro.
“We know that there are people who have been in spirited efforts to make Kurai a natural heir to Mukanya music through misrepresentation and lies but that honeymoon is over.”
Chiromo said he personally fought for Mukanya’s music rights and got them, making the Chimurenga icon one of the first local musicians to get freed from recording companies.
“I was only 24 years when l personally got Mukanya’s music rights in 1998 and his album ‘Chimurenga 98’ was his first release after getting those rights.
“I even ceded my percentage of those rights to the family so that the man can benefit from his works.
“Where were these people then who want to accuse me today?”
