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Mukanya hullabaloo uncalled for

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THOMAS ‘Mukanya’ Mapfumo, who relocated to the United States of America (USA), surprisingly joined the popular giant in the local music industry, Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi, on stage last Saturday at Johannesburg’s Carnival City in South Africa. Many Zimbabweans present at the show in Johannesburg were astonished by the unexpected appearance of Mapfumo. He was not on the original list of artistes billed to perform, but decided to avail himself to fellow Zimbabweans whom he clearly misses after so many years in self-imposed exile. Once a Chimurenga music guru in Zimbabwe, Mapfumo, over the years, has been reluctant to play in his home country. Contrary to some media reports that Mukanya’s life was under threat by President Mugabe, music fans —, some of them avid Mapfumo fans — said it defied logic for Mapfumo to base his reasons for not coming to perform home on rumours. They said the Chimurenga giant went on selfimposed exile and was never banned by President Mugabe from returning to his homeland. “Whoever banned Mukanya from coming to Zimbabwe?” asked Tinotenda from Mabvuku in Harare. “We all know his music and we even celebrate some of his songs in nightclubs around the country. So surely, it does not make sense when you find certain publications in Zimbabwe saying President Mugabe is responsible for Mukanya performing in foreign lands. “Sometimes,” he said, “I wish people would just shut up if they have nothing productive to say.” Another avid Mtukudzi fan identified as Chipo said it was only fair for the media to tell the truth and stop sensationalising, especially when it comes to Mapfumo. He reiterated that Mapfumo was never banished, but left on his own despite being a popular musician whose music was an inspiration to many Zimbabweans before and after the liberation struggle. “No one can deny that Mukanya’s music became controversial at times, but one thing for certain is that nothing can stop him from coming back to perform in his home country,” she said. “Why would anyone be scared to come and sing in Zimbabwe yet we have seen even internationally acclaimed artistes from the same country he is based in thronging Zimbabwe? “Our country, I am positive Mapfumo knows, is as peaceful as ever and remains one of the safest tourist destinations in the world. “People should stop hiding behind a finger and shift the blame on problems of their own making to Mugabe. “Mapfumo should come back to his homeland if he wants to and we will even go to his shows and I bet you a million dollars he will not even be hurt by a fly.” At the show in SA, Mapfumo shared the stage with Tuku, a musician he once referred to as ‘two faced’ in an interview with SW Radio Africa in 2005. Then, he believed Tuku was a musician who wanted to serve two masters concurrently, implying the Government and the fans. Mapfumo owes his popularity to his songs extolling Zimbabwe’s revolution.

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