Mapfumo heads home

Mapfumo heads home

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By Trevor Muhonde

CHIMURENGA music guru Thomas Mapfumo is said to be contemplating coming home for good after spending the last three years in the United States, according to the weekly Standard newspaper.

Mapfumo, who was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Zimbabwe in 1998 for his contribution to local music, is understood to be winding down business in the US and fulfilling his last contracted shows.

There is also talk that the veteran singer, who is 58 years old, is seriously considering retiring from live performances.
Mapfumo, arguably one of the best musicians Zimbabwe has ever produced, moved to the US in September 2001 with his family and some band members.

At the time, it was widely believed that the Chimurenga singer - whose acidic lyrics have repeatedly led to clashes with the Zimbabwean government - was forced into self exile because his life was under threat. The musician confirmed this in interviews with international publications and radio stations once he had left the country.

The Standard newspaper, quoting unnamed sources, reported that Mapfumo's stay in the US has not been that "rosy" and that is why he has always travelled back home to hold live concerts and record albums.

Mapfumo, popularly known as Mukanya, has been coming back home for Christmas shows and recordings, and last month Standard Plus reported that all his material for a new album had been lost at a local recording studio.

Another source said Mukanya was now finding it hard to hold live shows because of his advanced age and was now concentrating on "producing music and selling it".

It is also understood that the veteran musician has been inundated with offers to lecture at American universities since it became clear that he was taking a back seat from touring and live musical shows.

"Mukanya has received many offers from a number of institutions particularly to lecture on African music and ethnomusicology. Already he has been carrying out a number of workshops for some of the universities,"said a musician who plays with Mapfumo's Blacks Unlimited band when he is in the country.

He added that Mapfumo - because of old age - was contemplating retiring from music to concentrate "on other things" that would not be as taxing on his personal health.

"Old age has also been affecting his performances and he has been taking a lot of breaks in between shows. Of late, he has also not been feeling very well," said the musician.

Efforts by StandardPlus to get comment from William Mapfumo, his young brother who is also the band manager of Blacks Unlimited, were unsuccessful.

The younger Mapfumo's daughter said William left the country a month ago to join his brother in the US. The daughter said she was unaware of Mapfumo's plans.
Cuthbert Chiromo, his replication manager, could not be reached for comment.
Besides his music business, Mapfumo also owns Sporting Lions, a soccer team in the Premier Soccer League.
From StandardPlus
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