Mapfumo sings from Exile!!

Mapfumo’s UK reparation performance!!
By: Michael Chipato
The methodical and articulate Oliver Mutukudzi took to stage alongside the proverbially fertile Chimurenga guru Thomas Mapfumo at the Athena in Leicester over the weekend.
The two paired for performances that marked their legendary musical profiles in Zimbabwe and beyond. Over 1200 fans thronged the Athena for a rare treat by Zimbabwe’s two great artists at a gig rightly dubbed “Zimbabwe’s Finest Superstars Reloaded’’.
Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited this time made it to stage after last year’s gigs ‘that were never’ on a reparation mission. Anticipation and a sense of mystery gripped Mapfumo’s followers as they dreaded the unthinkable idea of another non performance by the Chimurenga guru. Mapfumo took the chance to apologize and reassured his fans that ‘we are sorry about what happened last time and are happy to be here’ as he took fans on some lyrical indulgence. Tracks like ‘Pfumvu paruzeva’ and ‘Moyo wangu’ continued to appeal to all unlimitedly.
Mapfumo, Jayaguru as he is referred to proved that he has not reached musical menopause .Dressed ‘fashionably ‘ in a ‘Weedies’ T-shirt and funky jeans he was ‘excited’ about the show that unpacked Chimurenga musical bullets from his wide reservoir of artistic repertoire. Tell me, who can beat that!!!
Mapfumo and Tuku have reigned in their musical constituencies for the longest time in Zimbabwe’s musical history. Tuku recently bagged 2 awards for his lifetime achievements which demonstrate that his music will never be obsolete. In October, the Women’s University in Africa awarded the 57-year-old singer an honorary Master of Fine Arts degree for his contribution to music. Then on November 7, Mutukudzi travelled to San Diego in the United States, where he was presented with the 2009 Cultural Ambassador Award by Project Concern International. Tuku continued to shine and the quality in his musical arrangement stood unpararrelled. The familiar household tune ‘Imi baba manyanya kurova mai’ set the house on fire as fan’s addictively joined in the Superstar’s perfomance.
After Tuku’s performance, Mapfumo took to stage and mourned about the poor public address system management stating that those at the control desk “Havazivi zvavanoita’.Regardless of this technical let down the singer pelted hit after hit triggering fans into sing along mode. Mapfumo is set to release his next album – Exile for Christmas and this promises to be another masterpiece. Mapfumo has continued to speak out against political corruption and dictatorial power .While Tuku plies his trade from Zimbabwe, Mapfumo continues to unrestrainedly unleash satirical art from exile...watch the space.