Mugabe sings Mtukudzi's praises

Mugabe sings Mtukudzi's praises

PERFORMER: Mtukudzi and marimba player Charles Chipanga on a recent UK tour

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By Showbiz Reporter

ZIMBABWE’S President Robert Mugabe has praised legendary singer and guitarist Oliver Mtukudzi’s “meaningful messages” in his music.

Many would have privately concealed their amazement at Mugabe’s glowing praise for the artist whose hit, Bvuma, became a national anthem a few years ago, interpreted by opposition supporters as a snipe at “ageing” Mugabe’s refusal to step down.

The 83-year-old Mugabe, not known to be a big music fan, used a speech at the launch of the Malaria Week in Victoria falls at the weekend to shower praises on Mtukudzi and South African singer, Yvonne Chaka Chaka.

Mtukudzi told New Zimbabwe.com on a recent UK tour that he had only ever met Mugabe ONCE since 1980, and they had only exchanged greetings in the briefest of encounters.

Mtukudzi and Chaka Chaka, who is an Ambassador of the Malaria Roll Back campaign, performed at a gala dinner at the Elephant Hills hotel opened by Mugabe and attended by Health Ministers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Mugabe said: “We have our own musician here, Oliver Mtukudzi, his music is full of meaningful messages to the nation particularly on how to preserve our culture. It's not just empty music."

Zimbabwe is going through an unprecedented economic collapse, and many suffering Zimbabweans have turned to protest music to express their anger at Mugabe’s policies.

Lyrics of Mtukudzi’s Hit, Bvuma (Admit):

Bvuma/bvuma iwe (Admit/hey admit)

Bvuma wasakara/bvuma wakurawe (Admit you are old/admit you have grown old)

Bvuma waunyana (Admit you are worn out)

Chikusakara?/Chiiko kukurawe? (What is being old/what is getting old?)

Chikusakara? Chiiko kukurawe? (What is being old/what is getting old?)
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