The award-winning outfit is concerned about safety in neighbouring Zimbabwe where they are otherwise popular among the masses following a song they released last year calling on the aged dictator to quit and hand over power to a new generation of leaders.
Chicken to Change, from the album, Radio Africa, released ahead of the World Cup South Africa hosted in 2010, lamented Mugabe’s dictatorial tendencies, which were in contrast to his style of leadership when he took over power in 1980.
Freshlyground lead singer, Zolani Mahoba, said:
“We had wanted to tour Zimbabwe but it would not be a good idea to do so following the issues around the song. The song is about Mugabe who is opposed to change. He is chicken to change,” she said.
Chicken to Change narrowly missed a South African Music Award following its nomination for the Music Video of the Year. The group teamed up with satirical show, ZA News, to make the video. The decision to hook up with the puppets from ZA News was taken after Mugabe declined a cordial invitation to participate in the video.
The group sings about what a noble supernova Mugabe was, a shiny star and how somewhere along the line he lost his way. In the video, the band is dressed in Zimbabwe’s 1980’s fashion and dances a choreographed ‘chicken’ dance.
Freshlyground’s Ten Year Birthday Love No Hate tour, which started in October, is scheduled to end on December 9.
Post published in: Entertainment