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PRI's The World, Global Hit (click >>
The spotlight is on Zimbabwe today. Elections are being held there -- and the world is watching to see whether those elections are deemed free and fair.
Opposition to President Robert Mugabe has taken many forms. One of them is music. And two musicians in particular stand out.
Thomas Mapfumo fled Zimbabwe after the April 2000 elections. His life was threatened. He eventually settled in Oregon. Mapfumo's songs today focus on Zimbabwe's poor and their struggle against Mugabe.
Thomas Mapfumo: "I'm trying to encourage them to fight back, that's why I named that CD 'Rise Up,' because I'm trying to encourage everyone to rise up and fight for their rights."
Mapfumo's latest album was released only on the internet. Not many people in Zimbabwe will hear it unless it's released there as a CD and cassette.
But in this song "Kunanira Mukati", Mapfumo says he's singing to the people of his country.
He translates the lyrics, which he wrote in the shona language of Zimbabwe.
TM: "You are hurt inside and yet you don't want to say anything. You don't want to stand up for your rights. You have been told lies for the past 20 years."
I'm singing about the majority of government of the Zimbabwe people, they don't want to stand up and fight for their rights, they fear, they fear the soldiers and police. If you are a freedom fighter you don't fear for your life..
Marco Werman: "But aren't many people legit frightened of what might happen."
TM: "Yes, they are afraid."
MW: "A lot of people in Zimbabwe must wish they had the opportunity you do to leave the country and not have to deal with the situation there."
TM: "Well, one type of a person, I believe in the poor people and I've been standing with the poor people for the rest of my life, I don't care if I die rich or people and stand for the poor people."
While Mapfumo sings from his exile in Oregon, another well-known musician from Zimbabwe chose to remain there.
He is Oliver Mtukudzi. He is less outspoken than Mapfumo. He has to be.
Oliver Mtukudzi: "I don't personalize my songs."
Oliver Mtukudzi would probably have as much trouble as Thomas Mapfumo if he were as overt in his lyrics.
So he says his criticism is more subtle.
OM: "The main umbrella like always what I sing about is self discipline, so whatever I sing about involves anybody, my songs really talk about self discipline, the issues, social issues, domestic, whatever, but the main this is self discipline, something that's got to do with humanity."
On his just released album, Mtukudzi's song Ninipa is an appeal for humility. He says people in Zimbabwe interpret his songs any way they want.
That can be problematic.
Recently Oliver Mtukudzi was asked to perform at a gathering. It turned out to be an event for Robert Mugabe's political party, ZANU PF. At his web site, Mtukudzi had to state for the record that he is not a ZANU PF supporter.
He wrote, "It is like an American Democratic Party supporter being asked to sing happy birthday to his Republican brother and suddenly finding the event being used in a Republican Party campaign ad."
Even Thomas Mapfumo said he doubts Oliver Mtukudzi's intentions.
One thing the two musicians both seem to agree on is this.
They don't understand why the outside world is not more concerned about the future of Zimbabwe.
Oliver Mtukudzi's newest album is called Nhava. Thomas Mapfumo's online release is entitled Rise Up. 03/31/05 >> go there
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