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Fadzayi Maposah Correspondent
I just love old school local music. I am a sucker for the music! It is rich music. I always tell the young people that back in my teenage days, songs had such lyrics that it was worth developing an “auto” book that had songs, artists and the lyrics!
This week I was listening to Paul Matavire.
Matavire was known as Dr Love, as most of his songs were about love.
He was a gifted poet, social commentator, song-writer, artist who contributed to the Zimbabwe arts industry in so many ways.
I am not one to scatter roses when one is gone, I always thought and I still maintain that the late Paul Matavire was a genius.
I googled this excellent artist and found out more about him.
Matavire was born on August 3, 1961 and died on the October 18, 2005.
He was born in Maranda, Mwenezi district of Masvingo Province. Matavire, who was visually impaired, rose to prominence when he joined the Jairos Jiri Band based in Bulawayo.
Matavire was well known for songs that included “Kamoto Kamberevere”, “Tanga Wandida”, “Nhamo Yousavi,” “Dhindindi Fulltime” and “January Disease”
He even wrote a special song for Jairos Jiri which he simply called “Pamberi navaJir”i.
I am sure you are wondering which songs by this artist I was listening to or you have already accorded me a song.
I was listening to the different songs, getting some on repeat occasionally just to enjoy how Matavire was able to create scenes in one’s mind as he sang.
Truly amazing.
The one song that kept growing on me each time that I listened to it was “Nyaya Dzerudo”. I do not consider myself to be a hopeless romantic, but I should confess I just had to hear this song over and over again!
“Kana motaura nyaya dzerudo, musandiudza. Handidi. Ndaneta nadzo,” sang Dr Love.
Loosely translated the sentence that I have just shared means: ‘When you talk about love issues, do not tell me. I do not want to hear those issues. I am tired of issues on love’.
That is rather strange for one man who was known as Dr Love is it not? Now if Dr Love was not eager to hear about love, who is able to hear to stand and hear what pertains to love?
I have concluded that Dr Love was overwhelmed by love issues to the extent that he just wanted to give up on love, maybe he could have renounced even the name Dr Love?
As a teenager, which is a long time ago, I used to enjoy listening to the then Radio 3 which is now known as Power FM after rebranding.
I would take the speakers out during some weekends and just enjoy the loud music playing.
I am totally to blame for how those speakers got worn out as I carried them in and out of the lounge! It is not easy having teenagers in the house, it was not easy when I was a teenager neither is it easy now when I am an adult!
I listened to Dr Love and many other artists at loud volume! When my daughters hear me ask them to repeat what they would have said, at times they say I could have damaged my ears as a young girl.
This is because my mother MaNcube enjoys telling her granddaughters how I used to behave as an adolescent.
One issue that she has included is my love for loud music as a teenager. She also includes my love for reading, a gift that I have passed on to my daughters.
When I went on Google to find out more about Dr Love, I realised that there is not much on the internet relating to the artiste and other Zimbabweans who are in the different sectors.
There is really need for us as Zimbabweans to tell our own stories and share with the outside world. I digress…
Another song that I used to listen to when I was young is I would do anything for love by Meatloaf. Rather strange name for a rock band is it not?
Let me just share some of the lyrics from the song:
That I would do anything for love
And you know it is true and that is a fact
But I will not do that, no
No, no I will not do that
There is no clarity regarding what the “that” is that the singers would not do for love.
It is left hanging.
Comparing the two songs, the one by Paul Matavire and the one by Meatloaf, in the Dr Love song, he has resigned regarding love, not wanting to hear anything about love.
On the other hand, Meatloaf is prepared to do anything for love, but it remains vague what the “that”, they will not do is!
Regarding the “it” experience, menstruation in relation to these two songs, I never want to surrender and stop talking about menstruation because I think that it is very important.
I have appointed myself an advocate regarding menstruation and because I am not heart broken or lovesick as probably Dr Love was when he wrote and sang that song, I will continue to talk about menstruation.
I have shared my experiences regarding menstruation and I will continue to do so, until talking about it is the new normal!
I can actually edit the Meat Loaf lyrics to suit my discussion around the “it” experience.
I will do anything for “it” experience
And you know it is true and that is a fact
But I will not do that, no
No, no I will not keep quiet.
Then the Dr Love “Nyaya Dzerudo “reproductive health remix will state “Kana motaura nyaya dzekutevera, ndiudzei. Chokwadi, ndiudzei ini. Ini handineti nadzo“.
Loosely translated this is: “When you talk about menstruation, (it experience) tell me. Tell me. I will never get tired of such stories!”
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