Sundaymail Editor
Sports Reporter
PREMIERSHIP giants Dynamos have described Zexie Manatsa as a veteran musician who inspired generations of players from the football club.
Manatsa died in Harare on Thursday after losing a battle with cancer.
He was 78.
He will be buried at Warren Hills Cemetery today.
The Government accorded Manatsa a State-assisted funeral in recognition of his achievements in the past five decades.
Among the popular songs he penned during his glittering career was one he dedicated to DeMbare titled ‘Tamirireiko (Dynamos Igowese)’.
He also composed songs for Highlanders, CAPS United and Zimbabwe Saints, all of which still resonate with football fans.
Dynamos board chairperson Bernard Marriot Lusengo yesterday led his club in mourning the passing on the music legend.
Marriot, a former guitarist himself, said Manatsa’s music also served as inspiration during the struggle for Zimbabwe’s emancipation from colonial bondage.
In his statement, the Dynamos founding father also touched on how they grew up together with Manatsa and other music gurus such as Thomas Mapfumo and late national hero Dr Oliver Mtukudzi, especially during liberation struggle.
“A dark cloud has descended on Zimbabwe as one of our greatest musical luminaries is no more. The passing on of Zexie Manatsa would pass for the great train robbery, as the arts industry has lost one of the founding fathers of pre- Independence music.
“Music, just like sports, was an effective tool of fighting against settler colonialism. Colonialism was a diabolical system which thrived on the exploitation of the blacks, who were viewed as worthless and third-class citizens.
“Sports and arts were then used by the indigenous black citizenry as platforms for self-expression of the black consciousness from the 50s up to independence,” Marriot said.
He said music, just like football, provided convenient cover for Africans to meet and discuss pressing issues and strategise how they could fight injustice.
“Blacks found community halls, church halls, beer halls, market places and sports grounds and stadia as meeting places where they would share and celebrate their dreams and aspirations as a people.
“Zexie Manatsa, Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mutukudzi, Safirio Madzikatire, Lovemore Majaivana, to mention but a few, were the frontliners of the black consciousness crusade through music, which was loaded with messages for the liberation struggle.
“Zexie dedicated the song ‘Tamirira (Dynamos Igowese)’ in honour of the exploits of the Glamour Boys. The song is still our war cry when we meet with our opponents on the field of play.
“Some of us who grew up with Zexie witnessed how gifted an artiste he was and today the entertainment industry is poorer without VaManatsa,” he added.
“To the family of the late musical giant, we say your loss is our loss too. The legacy of Zexie shall forever remain glowing in our hearts.
“He has joined the Lord in the beautiful garden where he shall entertain. May his dear soul rest in eternal peace!”
Online Reporter