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| Thomas Mapfumo |
Chimurenga music legend Thomas Mapfumo, who last visited Zimbabwe nine years ago, has described his three-day tour of Mozambique as “coming home.”
The United States of America-based music star will be the main performer during celebrations to mark that country’s Defence and Security Forces and Revolutionary Day to be held in Manica, Tete and Sofala Provinces.
“Going back to Mozambique is like going back home; it is like going back to Zimbabwe.
“It feels great to be honoured by the Mozambican government. This friendship has been there for a long time since the liberation struggle. We struggled together and fought together against colonialism,” said the 70-year-old music icon.
Mapfumo, who composed a song titled Zimbabwe/Mozambique in recognition of the solidarity between the two countries, added that he first visited the former Portuguese colony before he formed his backing band, the Blacks Unlimited.
“I first went to Mozambique when it was still called Portuguese East Africa. The man who made it possible was the late Mr Murapa. He was a businessman from Mutare.
“We went there as the Springfields. I then went there for the second time and the show was produced by a Portuguese promoter by the name Carlos. He died during the liberation struggle fighting for Angola,” said the music legend.
Mapfumo will begin his tour of Mozambique today at the Chimoio Municipal Football Stadium where the celebrations will be officiated by the Manica Province governor.
Tomorrow the Mamvemve singer will be the main performer at the Defence and Security Forces and Revolutionary Day celebrations set for Beira’s Estrela Vermelha Football Stadium that will be officiated by the Sofala Provincial governor before winding up his tour of Mozambique at the Municipal Pavilion in Tete where that province’s governor is expected to officiate.
Mukanya, as the veteran musician is popularly known by his fans, is expected to be backed by a band that features Gilbert Zvamaida on lead guitar, Lancelot Mapfumo (congas) Allan Chigwedere and Sam Meki (bass), Malvern Sarutawa (drums), Innocent Mutero (keyboards) Bezil (mbira) and Phillip Svosve and Canaan Kamoyo (saxophone) as well as Eunice Kapandura and Evidence Mudzingo on backing vocalists. Daily News
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