I will not keep quiet: exiled gospel singer

Exiled gospel singer, Joel Maphosa, says he will continue to belt out political tunes, despite the hostile reception he has received from state security agents during the past three years. Maphosa has been criticized by some fellow gospel singers and hounded by state security agents from his home country since he sang praises to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and other senior members of the mainstream MDC-T in his albumn entitled “Bomama Nimhlabelele”. Released in 2009, it is still

Standing in defiance - Maphosa.
Standing in defiance – Maphosa.

In December, police stopped him from performing at a venue in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North on the basis of his popular song. “They took me to task on why I had sung praises to people who were not the rulers of this country, and said as an MDC supporter, I could not be allowed to perform at that place,” said the Insindiso Yama Nazareth band owner and lead-singer, who is also a pastor with the Nations Apostolic Church in Zion.

“I only feel sorry for my fans, who had thronged the venue, but personally, that can only make me stronger because I know what I am fighting for, which is bigger than those who find pleasure in criticizing me.” Just last year, Maphosa recorded another song “Abantu Base Zimbabwe” (the people of Zimbabwe), in which he sang about the people’s cry for a return to democracy and respect for human rights in the country.

The Kezi-born singer said he would continue to sing and record political songs. “I am not against the current government, or any political party, but the people are suffering right now. I only sing about what most people and in the present situation, they want democracy and respect for human rights,” he added.

Post published in: Entertainment

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