Will Thomas Mapfumo come back to Zim?

Zimbabwean Chimurenga musician Thomas Mukanya Mapfumo is expected in Zimbabwe before the end of the year. However, this is all hearsay.
I spoke to Mapfumo recently and he expressed his fears of coming back to Zimbabwe and he referred me to his then manager, Allan Katz who was also fearful of his artiste’s safety in Zimbabwe.
Allan said to me: “Mapfumo is happy to perform in South Africa or anywhere near the borders of Zimbabwe, but not in Zimbabwe itself because he does not feel the time is right for him to come to Zimbabwe.”
Mapfumo, who is based in Eugene, Oregon in the USA, flew to South Africa on August 13 to meet his international organisers for a show to be held in that country.

Last week Thomas Mapfumo, together with Oliver Mtukudzi performed in Bloemfontein in a star-studded Mangaung African Cultural Festival line-up. He played alongside such world greats like the USA duo of Johnny Gill and Bebe Winans, South Africa’s Thandiswa Mazwai, Selaelo Selota, Zakes Bantwini and HHP, among others.
This concert generated a big sense of excitement among the thousands of Zimbabweans living in South Africa as lovers of Chimurenga music and traditional Zimbabwean pop experienced not one, not two, but three of Zimbabwe’s greatest cultural icons making magic on stage.

The following day, songbird Chiwoniso Maraire linked-up with her countrymen at the Zim-Za Music Festival in the Ellis Park Arena, downtown of Johannesburg. Thomas Mapfumo, the legendary father of Chimurenga (struggle) music in Zimbabwe and his band The Blacks Unlimited, Oliver Mtukudzi, the BIG voice of Southern Africa, who is ranked by Forbes 12th among Africa’s top 40 celebrities, and his band, the Black Spirits together with Chiwoniso thrilled audiences at Ellis Park. They left no one with any doubt that Zimbabwe has got talent.
Mapfumo’s interest in music as well as his conviction of its link with politics has a well-documented base in all his song-writing career. This is probably the reason why he is fearful of coming back to Zimbabwe, but there are thousands of his fans crying out for his come back.

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A number of people I spoke to have expressed their desire to have Mapfumo back.
I asked people what they thought about Mapfumo’s recent performance in South Africa and most of them seemed angry that he returned to the United States without coming to perform in Zimbabwe, yet he was so near.
Cloudio Mbirimi, a music fan had this to say: “I would pay anything to see Mapfumo perform in Zimbabwe again. Even if he charges US$50, I will beg, steal or borrow it to attend the show. He is an icon.”

Jane Makamure another music fan protested bitterly: “It’s not fair for people in South Africa to enjoy our music star when we in Zimbabwe are deprived. Come on, he and the politicians should start talking to each other so that we can also have the privilege of seeing him.”
“His homecoming is long overdue. He chooses to go and perform in South Africa instead of his country, Zimbabwe. That’s not right!” said Janimbo Gwangwata.

Mathias Bangure, the director of Music Crossroads said: “I don’t know what Mukanya is afraid of. After all the nation is talking about national healing. I am sure whatever crimes he committed are forgiven. He should come home and entertain his fans.”
Mapfumo’s early hits such as “Pfumvu Paruzevha”, “Hokoyo”, “Gwindingwi Rine Shumba”, “Pamuromo Chete”, “Nyoka Musango”, “Butsu Mutandarika”, “Corruption”, “Pidigori Waenda” and “Zimbabwe YeVatema” have a historical connection with the Zimbabwean politics of the pre-independence and post-independence era.

These songs illustrate his controversial link with the politics of Zimbabwe. His song, “Corruption” became a subject of debate in the Zimbabwean cabinet as Ministers decided on whether it should be banned from air-play or not because it was making a political statement which had an effect on the masses.
He pursues other related avenues such as social injustices, economic issues, poverty in Zimbabwe and other highly emotional themes. This is evidenced by his release in 1974 of “Ngoma Yarira” which was not hitting directly at political issues but had highly sensitive messages. Mapfumo’s music has always been consistent in this regard.

He rose to prominence in the 1970s when his inspirational music became critical of the Smith regime. He rose to prominence in Rhodesia during the war of liberation from white oppression of the black masses.
The music identified with the political climate of the time. Thomas championed the plight of the rural masses by singing protest songs, which criticised the Smith regime. “Hokoyo” released by Teal Record Company in 1977 sent shock waves throughout the country, while “Pfumvu Paruzeva” released the following year depicted the deplorable plight of the rural people who were facing the cruel hands of white soldiers at a time when freedom fighters were in battle with Ian Smith’s soldiers.

As a result of these releases, his music was banned from airplay by the Smith regime and he was arrested and jailed without trial. After his release, the next album was less political and it received significant airplay.
With the advent of independence in 1980 Thomas Mapfumo received official recognition when he was asked to perform at a Zanu-PF rally in front of Zimbabwe’s future Prime Minister, Robert Mugabe.
This was followed by the release of “Congress” a song which was written in anticipation of Zanu-PF’s first annual congress. After independence, Mapfumo was beginning to enjoy recognition from the new black government led by Prime Minister Robert Mugabe.

Previously, the Smith regime authorities had declared Mapfumo’s music as subversive. They had banned it from air-play, asked Teal Record Company to stop releasing any more of his music and Mapfumo had been subsequently locked up at Chikurubi for 90 days.
However, Teal Record Company, a white-owned organisation, managed at the time by Tony Rivett and John Grant, were equally defiant and continued to release Mapfumo’s music as he had become their cash cow. When he came out of prison, Teal released more singles as Mapfumo had proved to be a money spinner for them. After several “Chimurenga” singles, the album “Hondo” was released next.

Between 1990 and 2001, Mapfumo released five albums which included Chimurenga Hits Volume 1 and 2, Chimurenga Explosion and Chimurenga Rebel.
In the year 2000 the Chimurenga Explosion album became an instant hit especially with the singles “Mamvemve” and “Disaster” which according to reports that circulated, did not go down well with the government and the songs, it is claimed, were consequently banned from airplay by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

The general rhetoric in these two songs is the argument that today’s leaders have become corrupt, self-serving, and intolerant of dissension and as such have abandoned the interests of ordinary people.
After the release of this album, Thomas claimed that he was being harassed by state agents. He lost three of his cars which he said were confiscated by the Government on what he claimed were botched-up charges of him having received stolen property. After this incident, Mapfumo decided to take his family to the United States where he chose to live in exile.

He came back to Zimbabwe briefly at Christmas 2001 to stage some concerts with one concert at Boka Auction Floors having been attended by over 8 000 music fans.
Will he come back again? I wonder!

• Fred Zindi is a Professor at the University of Zimbabwe. He is also a musician and an author of several books on music. He can be contacted via e-mail on [email protected]