Music, dance: Reliving the struggle

congratulations on your 31st birthday. I was listening to the song Zimbabwe by Bob Marley and it took me back to the day Zimbabwe attained its independence in 1980.
The song became a hit for a long time as people celebrated the new Zimbabwe. There were other songs which were composed, rearranged, to mark the attainment of our independence, one such song was “Mbuya Nehanda kufa vachitaura shuwa”, this song became like a national anthem for the country as people sang along.
“Mbuya Nehanda kufa vachitaura shuwa kuti tinotora sei nyika ino shoko rimwe ravakundiudza tora gidi uzvitonge. Vadzoka kuhondo, shuwa here vakatora anti air kuti ruzhinji ruzvitonge.”
The song had been composed during the liberation struggle by the freedom fighters and when Zimbabwe got its independence the song was rearranged and recorded by Virginia Sillah Jangano and the Harare Mambos.
It is through song and dance that we celebrate our happiness and air our grievances.
Since the 1930s when the first recordings were done by Hugh Tracy, musicians have been composing songs to air their grievances against the settler regime.
One of the early songs was by Dauramanzi, and it was called Baba VaNgirande. Baba VaNgirande, (The father of England) and it was recorded in Masvingo (Fort Victoria) by Hugh Tracy in 1933. Some of the earliest “makwaya” would begin with a narrator telling a story, and the accompanying group would back in chorus.
In the late 40s, the Epworth Theatrical Strutters composed the song “Rudzi Rwevatema” (The Black Race), a political song which bemoaned the suffering of black people under colonial rule. In the 1950s musicians like Dorothy Masuka, The City Quads, Faith Dauti composed songs challenging the establishment.
Dorothy composed a song about Malan – uDr Malan Unomthetho Onzima (Dr Malan’s government is harsh), which challenged the oppressive government of Malan during apartheid.
Dorothy also sang another song challenging apartheid call “Mhlaba”,This world, with one of the lines as follows; “Kulomhlaba siyahlupeka, abamnyama basosizini”, In this world we have problems Black people are in sorrow.
The City Quads composed the song Lizofika nini Ilanga? (When will the day of Freedom Come?).
According to Sam Matambo who was a member of the City Quads said in an interview that I had with him in 1992, that “Lizofika nini Ilanga” was a prayer song like a Negro Spiritual, asking in prayer; When will the day of Freedom Come?
The song was one of the songs on the LP; Music in the African Township, which had 12 songs and was the first long playing record by black people in Zimbabwe.
The LP was subsequently banned because of the track – “Lizofika nini Ilanga”. Sam Matambo, whilst working for the Federal Broadcasting was taken to task by the authorities each time he played the controversial tune.
Part of the song “Lizofika nini Ilanga” went like this; Lizofika nini Ilangalenkululeko, Lizofika nini Ilanga lenjabulo, Abantu abensundu bayahlepeka, kudala, kudala, kudala. (When will the day of freedon come, when will happiness come, black people are suffering, it’s been long, it’s been long).
Faith Dauti’s song “Rosvika Zuva” a love song was played on the General Service Radio (European Service) during the bus strike of the 50s.
It was about love; aimed at persuading black workers to abandon the strike and go back to work. In the 60s authorities banned musicians to sing for more than two people, gatherings were not allowed; a state of emergency was introduced.
The voices of musicians were suppressed, but musicians continued to compose songs challenging the establishment, but recording companies could not record the songs. Susan Chenjerayi composed the song; “Hondo yeChindunduma”, but recording companies refused to record the song.
The controversial Unilateral Declaration of Independence by Ian Smith on November 11 1965, saw the political situation deteriorating further. Black people became even more disgruntled.
In 1966 the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (Zanla) the armed wing of Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu), started what was to be called the Second Chimurenga.
Seven Zanla forces died in an encounter with Rhodesian forces at the Battle of Sinoia (Chinhoyi). In that same year Zimbabwe African People’s Union (Zapu), formed the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (Zipra).
As a way of consolidating his rule, in 1972 Ian Smith signed a settlement with Britain that had to be ratified by the whole country. But the British Commission headed by Lord Pearce declared a resounding rejection of the settlement from the black population.
Zanu and Zapu united as the Patriotic Front (PF) and waged the Second Chimurenga war against Rhodesia from 1972-1979, through their respective armed wings. With the independence of Mozambique in 1975, the war intensified and PF started gaining political ground in Zimbabwe as Zanla combatants could now be trained in Mozambique and the Zipra continued in Zambia.
Musicians went on to fight their own war through music; many songs to support the liberation struggle were composed.
Thomas Mapfumo composed and recorded quite a number of songs, some of them were; “Tonotumira vana kuhondo” (We will send children to war), “Amai ndoenda kuAfrica kune huchi nemukaka”, (Mother I am going to Africa were there is milk and honey), “Bhutsu Mutatuarikwa”, “Gwindingwi rine shumba inoruma”. Oliver Mtukudzi’s “Rova Ngoma Mutavara”, was also very popular in the 70’s.
The Two Singing Nuns also sang political songs in the 70’s in support of the liberation struggle. One of their songs, which became quite popular was “Tatetereka”, (We have wandered).
The song “Tatetereka” asked the Almighty to intervene during the liberation struggle. Jordan Chataika and his sisters, Edna and Molly recorded the song that became popular in the 70s “Ndopatigere Pano” (This is where we live) depicting the plight of internal refuges living in camps like Chirambahuyo as people fled the war from the villages and lived in squatter camps in the peripheries of urban areas.
This was also a political and social commentary to do with the plight of black people during the 70s who were forcibly removed from their homes and put up in “keeps”, guarded camps, so that they could not be in contact with the freedom fighters.
Susan Mapfumo sang a song which ridiculed Muzorewa’s government, which came as a result of the internal settlement in 1979, called “Gunguwo”.
The 70s was the rock, pop and soul era and musicians composed songs along these genres.
The rock era was about changing the status quo; education, religion, fashion and politics.
The rock bands in Zimbabwe used their music to challenge the establishment.
One of the rock bands of the 70s the Wells Fargo’s song “Watch Out” (big storm is coming) , became very popular. Yes the big storm came, petrol tanks were attacked. Patients who were at the Nazareth Hospital along Simon Mazorodze (Beatrice Road) were evacuated.
The storm (fire) was fierce, my parents advised us (my sisters and brothers) to go to my grandparents house in Zata Street, National, which was far from the inferno.
As we were about to go, my brother Emmanuel decided not to go and chose to die together with amai and baba (our father and mother).
We then decided to wait for the worst together as a family. The atmosphere was tense, a dark cloud was hanging. The fire could not be put off for days.
The attack on petrol tanks was one of the big storms which shook the country during the liberation struggle. Another rock group The Eye of Liberty rocked the country with their song “Calling Your Name” (in a dark place), the song was recorded and produced by Webster Shamu. After a week, Webster Shamu crossed (left the country), to join the struggle.
His name had been called, many other young people’s names were called, one would wake up in the morning and be told that so and so, aka-crossa nezuro (crossed yesterday).
What would usually happen is that some of those who had crossed earlier would come and collect those left behind, hence “Calling your Name”. Some of the names which were called came back to celebrate the new state in 1980, but some did not.
A big thank you to you all. To those who fought the liberation struggle in various ways, including the gun and song. Every man got a right to decide his own destiny.
And in this judgement there is no partiality. So arm in arms, with arms, we’ll fight this little struggle, because that’s the only way we can overcome our little trouble.
Brother, you’re right, you’re right,
You’re right, you’re right, you’re so right!
We gon’ fight (we gon’ fight), we’ll have to fight (we gon’ fight), We gonna fight (we gon’ fight), fight for our rights!
Natty Dread it in-a (Zimbabwe);
Set it up in (Zimbabwe);
Mash it up-a in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Africans a-liberate (Zimbabwe), yeah.
No more internal power struggle;
We come together to overcome the little trouble.
Soon we’ll find out who is the real revolutionary,
‘Cause I don’t want my people to be contrary.
And, brother, you’re right, you’re right,
You’re right, you’re right, you’re so right!
We’ll ‘ave to fight (we gon’ fight), we gonna fight (we gon’ fight) We’ll ‘ave to fight (we gon’ fight), fighting for our rights!
Mash it up in-a (Zimbabwe);
Natty trash it in-a (Zimbabwe);
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
I’n’I a-liberate Zimbabwe.
(Brother, you’re right,) you’re right,
You’re right, you’re right, you’re so right!
We gon’ fight (we gon’ fight), we’ll ‘ve to fight (we gon’ fight), We gonna fight (we gon’ fight), fighting for our rights!
To divide and rule could only tear us apart;
In everyman chest, mm – there beats a heart.
So soon we’ll find out who is the real revolutionaries;
And I don’t want my people to be tricked by mercenaries.
Brother, you’re right, you’re right,
You’re right, you’re right, you’re so right!
We’ll ‘ve to fight (we gon’ fight), we gonna fight (we gon’ fight), We’ll ‘ve to fight (we gon’ fight), fighting for our rights!
Natty trash it in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Mash it up in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Set it up in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Natty dub it in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe).
Set it up in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Every man got a right to decide his own destiny.
Joyce Jenje Makwenda is an archivist, researcher, author, producer and freelance journalists, she can be contacted on: [email protected]