Timeless Thomas Mapfumo: Voice of the Voiceless

 

Timeless Thomas Mapfumo

By Kamangeni Phiri   3/1/2023

VETERAN singer, Thomas ‘Mukanya’ Mapfumo, Zimbabwe’s pro-poor guardian angel, now 77, knows his time on stage is up – but realises he still needs an audience.

He is forging a new relationship with it.

The indefatigable human rights defender and pioneer of the chimurenga music genre, spent much of the pandemic working on new projects at his Oregon home in the United States.

He has never stopped writing songs.

“I compose music on an almost daily basis. So far we have two new albums that we recorded and are still to be released. We have Ndikutambire recorded in the US and another still to be named album that we recorded in South Africa. I have lots of music, more than 100 songs, that I still have to release. The songs are on my phone. Even my band members do not know most of the new songs.

I love music, promoting our culture and human rights. I don’t care much about money. I love people and will always compose music that is pro-poor,” Mapfumo said in a recent interview with 1Zimlegends.

The chimurenga music icon is scheduled to go into the studio anytime soon to record a third new album at Sprout City Studios in Oregon, USA.

Mapfumo has lost none of his sting and sarcasm when composing songs that attack dictators, corrupt regimes and individuals.

However, the vigour associated with the moves, leaps, and turns that made his live shows a must-see in the past has greatly diminished.

After nearly six decades of performing live on stage, Mukanya’s legs have been tiring, naturally, under the weight of age.

Now, he is ready to perform one last dance for his fans back home in Zimbabwe and the UK.

Mukanya says he is working on bringing to Zimbabwe his friend, fellow septuagenarian, international reggae great Winston Rodney, also known as Burning Spear.

“The Zimbabwe show will be a big event as I will share the stage with my friend and age mate, Winston Rodney. We are organizing the event together,” he said.

Both musicians will take it easy on live shows in future while continuing to compose and produce music.

For both the Zimbabwe and the UK shows, Mapfumo will be accompanied by his nephew, Kurai Makore.

Young Kurai can perfectly sing all of Mapfumo’s songs, and his voice is reminiscent of his more famous uncle.

“I will give some of my works to my son, Kurai Makore to record. The boy is well behaved and talented. I like him.

“If everything goes to plan, I will be bringing Kurai to the UK show with me. I want to officially introduce him to chimurenga music fans. I will also have my brother-in-law’s daughter, Ratidzo Dangarembga, who is also a good singer but plays a different beat which is more on the western side. The girl has the potential to make it as an international musician if she remains focused. She is also based here in Oregon,” said Mapfumo.

Kurai is the son of Mukanya’s late brother; Dominic Makore.

The veteran musician who is considered by many to be Zimbabwe’s cultural ambassador gained his international fame backed by one band – The Blacks Unlimited.

Mukanya and his band have weathered the storms together, surviving changing trends and proving they have what it takes to keep a devoted fan base returning for more; decade after decade.

Death robbed the band of its key members like Everson Chibhamu, Charles Makokova, Ephraim Karimaura and Joshua Dube while a few others would move on to start their own projects but the Blacks Unlimited still maintained their beat and popularity.

“We recently lost Lancelot, my brother and friend. It pains me that from the Blacks Unlimited original lineup, we are only three that are surviving. It’s Washington Kavhayi (bassist), Themba Ncube (saxophonist) and myself who are still alive. Just take a look at the Mabasa album cover sleeve and you will see what I am talking about. Another key member was Picket Chiyangwa, my nephew,” Mukanya said.

Kavhayi and Ncube are no longer part of the Blacks Unlimited.

The traditional spirit of this band – which technically began as The Acid Band, back in the early 1970s – is eternal.

No matter how much the line-up changes, Mapfumo’s music maintained its form and structure. It always has an outstanding lead guitar which is often used to transcribe the mbira sound.

Mukanya said his type of music makes it easy for the lead guitar to stand out.

“I also help in defining how I want the guitar to come out but I should also acknowledge that I have been fortunate to work with exceptionally talented guitarists, you can mention Joshua Hlomayi Dube, Jonah Sithole, Picket Chiyangwa, Ashton Sugar Chiweshe, Ephraim Karimaura and Gilbert Zvamaida. This is exceptional talent.

Joshua Dube was the first to transcribe the mbira sound on the guitar when we were with the Hallejuah Chicken Run Band. But I would say Jonah Sithole took the art to another level. I conceptualized the guitar-on mbira and engaged guitarists like Joshua and Sithole to help transcribe it. In making the unique chimurenga sound, certain instruments stand out. The congas and the lead guitar always stand out,” he said.

Mapfumo grew up in the rural areas listening to traditional music when he was staying with his grandmother.

Like a phoenix the man keeps re-inventing himself, churning out timeless hits in a fast-changing technology driven world. New songs like Wake Up Zimbabwe, Nezuro and Ngatidananei prove Mukanya’s staying power. Ngatidananei has a dancehall feel as it is spiced by some toasting done by lead guitarist Gilbert Zvamaida. The irresistible riddim has since been hi-jacked by some Zimdancehall artistes who are using it to make their own songs. Please note, the songs might bear different titles when they are finally officially released.

There is also a remix of the classic reggae song, Ruva Rangu which Mukanya did with emerging female traditional singer, Ammi Jamanda. The song was given a fresh breathe by the female voices that back Jamanda which balance well with Mukanya’s baritone voice. Also, the horns were a bit more adventurous, dominating throughout while the lead guitar leaned more on the heavy metallic rock side giving the song a fresh appeal. 

Thomas Mapfumo was born on 2 July 1945, in Marondera to Janet Chinhamo of Chihota and Tapfumaneyi Makore of Mupinyuri village in Guruve. However, his parents never stayed together and Janet went on to get married to John Kashesha Mapfumo.

Mapfumo and his siblings grew up in the Christian Marching Church, a breakaway indigenous church of the Salvation Army.

“This explains my love for music and the brass section in particular. We used to play these instruments at church,” said Mukanya.

Mukanya’s birth name was Michael Munhumumwe and only assumed the name Thomas when he obtained his national identity card. Munhumumwe was his mother’s stepfather.

The chimurenga guru’s official name is Thomas Chikawa.

Chikawa was Mapfumo’s uncle, his maternal grandmother’s brother.

Mukanya started his music career doing cover versions of Elvis Presely.

“I would even imitate his dressing and even attempted to copy his hair style but then the texture of our hair as Africans made that impossible. I eventually realised that I can’t be promoting foreign music and letting our own culture die. That is how I started singing traditional Shona songs,” he said.

Mukanya has no kind word for Zimdancehall artistes whom he accuses of promoting foreign culture.

He said Zimdancehall was Jamaican music being done in Shona.

“There is nothing Zimbabwean about it. The youth should push towards promoting and advancing our culture. What surprises me is that all the so-called Zimdancehall artistes don’t use their birth names, they use pseudonyms. What is that? There is no way these guys can compete with Jamaican artistes in this genre because it’s their music and culture. Let’s promote what is ours and preserve our identity as a people. I was once young and singing rock and roll. I used to idolize Elvis Presely,” he said