Zimpapers Logo

Thomas Mapfumo

Tawanda Marwizi Arts Correspondent
Chimurenga musician Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo will not be coming home in September as initially announced during his tour of South Africa in April.
The musician told The Herald Entertainment at a show in Musina that he was preparing to come home for a show and his Chimurenga Music Company had slated the tour for next month.
However, Chimurenga Music Company Zimbabwe publicist Blessing Vava said the musician will not be coming in September due to “technical issues”.

“We thought by September everything would be fine but we are yet to finalise the tour. Please note that this postponement has nothing to do with his security as some people allege,” said Vava.

He could not divulge the nature of technical issues that have affected the proposed tour.
“I cannot say much about that but we just want you to know that technical issues affected Mukanya’s homecoming shows. The issues are logistical on our part but we are preparing to release a a new album soon.”

In an interview on the sidelines of the Musina show Mukanya was confident of his tour.
“Kure kwemeso nzeve dzinonzwa. We know many people are waiting for us at home and we promise them a great experience in September when we come home.

“There are some respected people here that came so that we arrange the homecoming show. I miss home and it would be a great return when we visit Zimbabwe,” said Mukanya.

“I am a Zimbabwean and I am proud of it. Even if some people in foreign countries view my country negatively, I tell them that I love my country and I will forever be proud of it. Nowhere is better than home. I will come home for good in the foreseeable future.”

Recently, Vava announced that promoters were jostling for the September tour and boasted that Chimurenga Music Company would go it alone at the show. Everything has now crumbled and Vava could not give a new date for the tour.

This is not the first time Mapfumo has failed to come back home. Prominent businessman Phillip Chiyangwa has tried to bring back Mukanya for tours on several occassions but his efforts failed to materialise.

The musician tried to reach his fans in the country when he staged a show closer home in Musina but the show was a monumental flop.
Most of the fans that attended the show were from Musina and the show was a far cry from what the organisers had anticipated.

However, the other two shows of the musician’s South African tour that were held in Cape Town and Johannesburg were reportedly well-attended.