Mapfumo is due to perform in two concerts in South Africa on October 8 and 9. The musician was forced into exile from Zimbabwe seven years ago, when his songs – critical of the regime of Robert Mugabe – were banned.
He yearns to come home but is grateful that he now lives in a "beautiful and peaceful place" in the US, where his children are able to get a good education and he can concentrate on writing and recording new music with his band. The Blacks Unlimited, who will perform with him in SA, went into exile with him.
"I am really looking forward to being back in SA. It is such a stronghold for Zimbabweans who have grown up on my music. I will be playing tracks from my latest album, Exile, as well as from my new and as yet unnamed album that I am recording at the moment," Mapfumo said.
On October 8, he will perform alongside Zimbabwean music greats – like Oliver Mtukudzi – and US greats Johnny Gill and Bebe Winans at the Mangaung African Cultural Festival in Bloemfontein. After that Mapfumo moves on to Johannesburg for a concert at Ellis Park on October 9. There he will be joined by Mtukudzi and Chiwonsio Maraire, who is deemed the master of Zimbabwean Mbira music.
Post published in: Entertainment