Online Reporter
Forward Nyanyiwa in CARLOW, Ireland
CHIMURENGA music legend, Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo, is expected to land in Harare on OCTOBER 1, H-Metro can exclusively reveal.
Mukanya is then expected to take part in his first official engagement, two days later, also in the capital.
The veteran musician has been booked for two high-profile events, in which he will be paid US$1 million, by businessman Wicknell Chivayo.
He is billed to perform at Jah Prayzah’s wedding, which was initially reported to have been set for August, and at Chivayo’s birthday party.
It’s the BIGGEST cash deal ever secured by a local musician to perform at just two musical shows.
Until now, Mukanya’s travel arrangements have remained a secret.
There was even speculation, on some social media sites, that the Chimurenga music legend would not take part in his two special engagements in Zimbabwe this year.
Some even claimed that the US$1 million deal had collapsed.
However, H-Metro can reveal that everything remains on course and Mukanya is expected to arrive home on October 1.
An impeccable source revealed Mukanya’s itinerary.
“Mukanya will arrive in Zimbabwe on the 1st of October in time for his first engagement which will take place on two days later,” said the course.
“Some of his band members will travel on the 28th of September while others are already there in Zimbabwe.”
It has also been revealed that some of the Blacks Unlimited members have been working with Mukanya’s nephew Kurai Makore.
It could not be confirmed last night if they will be part of Mukanya’s engagements at the two events.
“Some of Mapfumo’s band members, like the ladies who are the backing vocalists, are working with Kurai,” said the source.
“We don’t know yet if they will be included for the upcoming shows but it is most certainly that will be the case.”
The return of the Chimurenga music icon is set to be one of the biggest highlights on the domestic entertainment front this year.
In July, H-Metro exclusively revealed that Mukanya was going to accept the US$1 million offer to play two shows in Zimbabwe.
His inner circle told us that the good money was on Mukanya accepting the offer as it was a business transaction.
Then, after days of intense speculation, including old videos being replayed on social media to hoodwink people that Mukanya had turned down the offer, the Chimurenga music legend spoke for the first time on the subject.
He used a video to ensure that there won’t be some who will dispute his words or misquote him.
In the video posted online, Mukanya accepted US$500,000 to grace Jah Prayzah’s wedding and a further US$500,000 to perform at Chivayo’s birthday in November.
“I am coming to perform at Jah Prayzah’s wedding and Wicknell Chivayo’s birthday,” he said.
Ahead of the announcement, H-Metro interviewed Mukanya’s former handlers, who, like this publication, correctly predicted the icon was going to accept the offer.
It was a BOLD and risky move by this newspaper to declare that Mukanya was going to accept the offer.
H-Metro Editor, Robson Sharuko, said newspapers lived and died on their credibility and to get it right, on such a major story, was very good for the tabloid.
“It’s quite delicate because one it was a major story and two there was some history to it and the pressure from many sides, with their own agendas, made it a very challenging subject to deal with,” said Sharuko.
“As an Editor, you have to go with your instincts and you know that you are gambling not only your reputation but also the reputation of your publication.
“When the picture began to emerge that there was a likelihood Mukanya was going to accept the offer this time around, thanks to the excellent reporting and good sourcing from our team, I had to make the call whether to go with it or hold on for a moment.
“There is always the danger that it can all explode in your face, if you get it wrong, and you can only imagine the damage that will come through, especially on social media, if it emerges that your story was wrong.”
He added:
“I mean, you run a front page story today and publish it tomorrow and by the time it is on the streets there is already a video recorded in America saying exactly the opposite of what you are reporting.
“These are moments that can break a newspaper and with all the hostility on social media, you can only image what would happen on such a day.
“But, we trusted our sources.”
