REVERED Chimurenga music icon Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo will tonight launch his Dangerzone album over the social media platform, Skype, at a function at Book Café in the capital, Harare. The launch will coincide with the Tribute to Thomas Mapfumo Concert where a huge line-up of more than 12 artistes will honour the Chimurenga music icon.
BY GARIKAI TUNHIRA
Mukanya’s publicist in Zimbabwe, Blessing Vava, said the United States-based music guru would be live on Skype to interact with Chimurenga disciples. “On Skype, Mdhara (Mukanya) will talk about his album, its meaning. He will answer questions from the floor,” Vava said.
Some of the artistes to grace the occasion include Jah Prayzah, Victor Kunonga, Nyamasvisva, BaShupi, Cynthia Mare, Clare Nyakujara, Mannex and Rudo Chasi.
Poet Chirikure Chirikure and Mukanya mimic Raymond Majongwe will also be performing as well as Bundu Crew, Diverse and Talking Guitars.
The album carries 12 tracks and only one is a rendition, Shebeen.
Other songs on Dangerzone are Chikonzero, Zimbabwe, Chikwereti Music and Varimudande. There is also the title track Dangerzone, Nhamo Hurombo, Hatidi Politics, Celebrate, Are You Ready and Pasi Idandaro.
Vava said Chikonzero and Zimbabwe were similar in titles with previous tracks, but were different songs altogether in lyrics and beat.
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Wrote Vava on the album sleeve: “Dangerzone, the new and explosive offering by Dr Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo, is not only historic, but comprehensive art that is set to move the human race forward.
“It is a fusion of traditional and new tunes consolidating Chimurenga music as an authoritative voice on current affairs, being a Zimbabwean voice for the oppressed, marginalised both in and outside national frontiers.
“In his usual show of complexity in addressing the socio-economic and political pitfalls, Mukanya calls for an end to war and its exigencies, calling for global peace and co-existence as the drivers for global development.”
Dangerzone’s release comes five years after his last album, Exile, in 2010. In 2013, Mukanya released Golden Classics, a collection of music that dominated his early years in music The 69-year-old last performed in Zimbabwe 11 years ago.
