He also introduced another song by saying, "This song is about our youth. There are too many wars these days... what if young people refused to go?" (applause)
By the end of the evening I had concluded that Mapfumo’s music, with its complex, melodic rhythms (that brought dozens of the audience to the front of the theater dancing) could best be described as “liberation music.”
Even more, as I pondered the themes of peace, of justice, of freedom or health and wholeness that transcended the music that tried, futilely, to contain and tame them, I decided that an even better description might be “Kingdom of Heaven” music... music in the footsteps of Isaiah, Amos, and Jesus.
I found it easy to relate Mapfumo’s focus on freedom to our own national passion of every possible idealized version of this concept... including the musical voices from our own turmoil of the 1960s freedom marches and anti-war demonstrations.
No matter how elusive, impossible or impractical the attainment of this vision of freedom might be there is nonetheless something of God in it: The lion lying down with the lamb; Jesus’ parables of the Kingdom of God; John’s revelation of the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven.
I sought in vain to find some parallel with Muslim culture... an expression within Islamic culture in music or poetry or simply a visionary dream of peace, and joy, and freedom for all. I have no doubt that I will be thinking and rethinking this matter in the days to come.
As Mapfumo ended the concert he thanked the audience for their enthusiastic support and then added, "God bless you."
These simple words, which caught me completely by surprise, seemed to validate my take on his music. True freedom is not provided by ideology or liberation movements. The liberation from one oppressor (White Rhodesia) has turned out to be little more than a slow transition from one form of oppression to another. True freedom will never be attained through the efforts of sinful humanity. Freedom is, above all else, a gift from God that is, as our own nation’s founding documents explain, presented to us all as an endowment... an unalienable right for all.
Yes, tonight’s concert was about freedom. And the words, “God bless you,” pointed to the only place we can ultimately turn to find it.
Samples of his music can be found here, here and here.
Article comments
1 - samaita
The nearest to home as i live in England is Thomas Mapfumos and the Blacks Unlimited music. Mukanya as we affectionaltely know him leads the struggle from the from, he is a trus hero for us. Never has an artist in Zimabwe broken barries of the political strangle hold like Thomas has done throughout all the progressive governments that have ruled Zimbabwe > He is a true marker for politics in Zimbabwe. Long live Mukanya. Vadzimu vachakuchena chete, Viva Thomas and the Blacks Unlimited.
2 - tembo
In Zimbabwe he is Paul the Prophet, a man who has spread the gospel of freedom like no-other. If all people ( Mugabe and so called War veterans ) could listen and understand, they would have known. Listen to Ndiyani Achatipa Runyararo (Who Will Give Us Peace) on the album Chimurenga Singles 1976-1980. This is a classic, no-one in the history of Zimbabwean music has expressed the love for his country, people and culture like Mukanya. His music has reverberated throughout all the generations from eras that some of us did not live, from mbuya Nehanda & Sekuru Kaguvi throughout to Morgan Tsvangirai. Mukanya will never let us walk alone. He is the true Master of Zimbabwe' culture.
3 - tembo
In Zimbabwe he is Paul the Prophet, a man who has spread the gospel of freedom like no-other. If all people ( Mugabe and so called War veterans ) could listen and understand, they would have known. Listen to Ndiyani Achatipa Runyararo (Who Will Give Us Peace) on the album Chimurenga Singles 1976-1980. This is a classic, no-one in the history of Zimbabwean music has expressed the love for his country, people and culture like Mukanya. His music has reverberated throughout all the generations from eras that some of us did not live, from mbuya Nehanda & Sekuru Kaguvi throughout to Morgan Tsvangirai. Mukanya will never let us walk alone. He is the true Master of Zimbabwe' culture.