ON Saturday August 23, this year, Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo gave what he dubbed his grand finale — a performance in Birmingham, United Kingdom. We hear that he is planning more concerts for future performances. Is he now coming out of his retirement? I ask.
I am still yet to come across any constitution in this world which stipulates that a musician should retire at a particular age. If such regulations existed, the likes of Burning Spear or Sir Mick Jagger would be out of business by now. I know that in some professions such as High Court judges or Commissioners of Police, the constitutional rules regarding retirement should be strictly followed.
It was Thomas Mapfumo’s 80th birthday four months ago. He was born on July 3, 1945. Thomas Mapfumo announced sometime back that he would retire at the age of 80 but events taking place now show that he is still working beyond his own stipulated. retirement age
Below is the message coming from Thomas Mapfumo himself “on his facebook page on the 3rd of July 2021 at the age of 76:.
“Hello Chimurenga Music fans, thank you for stopping by the Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited page. Many of you have often asked why we did not have an official Facebook page, but at one point we did. We had a page with over 40 000 followers, opened by Thomas’ family. The former band manager was given access to that page, and when that said former manager parted ways with the band, he refused to hand the page back and de-activated it. So here we are, starting over and hoping you will support us once again. While we are here clarifying some things, we would like to make some things very clear, especially with regards to who represents Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited. There is some confusion as to who speaks on behalf of the band and it has caused a lot of chaos in our camp.
Austin Sibanda is not the manager of the Blacks Unlimited band. Blessing Ivan Vava is not Thomas Mapfumo’s publicist. There has been confusion, including interviews where this misrepresentation has taken place for so long and we would like to make it very clear that these people have not worked with The Blacks Unlimited since December 2018. There have been several other instances of people who know Mapfumo personally, taking it upon themselves to conduct business under his name. At this moment, only Thomas Mapfumo speaks for Thomas Mapfumo. If it does not come from any of his official platforms, it is not from him.
All merchandise is sold via the band’s website. We do not sell merchandise through WhatsApp, or any other platforms other than the website. We also do not have a WhatsApp group chat, nor do we support such groups as they are fuelling illegal sharing of the artiste’s music. Please note that publication or sharing of Thomas Mapfumo’s music/artistic material on any platforms (X, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc.) without written permission from Thomas Mapfumo’s legal representation is a serious violation of copyright laws. We urge anyone who has published Thomas Mapfumo’s music, live performances, rehearsals, etc. without written permission from Chimurenga Music Company to take it down with immediate effect. Failure to do so will result in legal consequences.
If you would like to book the band, please use their website contact form. (See what I mean?) If you would like to purchase the band’s music, please go to the known online music platforms such as Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, and the band’s website. If you would like to keep up with the band and support them please follow this page; @OfficialMukanya (X); and officialthomasmapfumo (Instagram). The band’s official website is Thomas –mapfumo.com
Thank you for your continued support!”
From the look of it, Thomas Mapfumo is still very active. The last paragraph reads “Ïf you would like to book the band….etc” meaning that he has not retired yet.
Enter Sam Mataure. When Mataure who had been Oliver Mtukudzi’s manager and drummer saw that gap in 2018, he thought that he could persuade Thomas to take him on as his manager. Thomas to some extent agreed but Sam was unfortunate that when he reached Portland, Oregon in the United States where Thomas Mapfumo resides, he fell sick and was hospitalised. Thomas saw this development as a burden to him. He took care of Sam Mataure but as soon as Sam was healed he persuaded him to go back to Zimbabwe. Sam could not even operate as a drummer because he had been paralysed on his left side after the stroke he had suffered. Sam then came back to Zimbabwe.
They met again in January 2020 when Thomas Mapfumo went to give a performance at Ekhuruleni Boksburg Hotel in South Africa. Sam persuaded music promoter, Josh Hozheri to take him to South Africa as his desire to show Thomas Mapfumo that he was now fit and strong, But his pursuit of being Mapfumo’s manager did not die in his heart.
I spoke to Mataure before he left Zimbabwe about his ambitions and Thomas Mapfumo’s retirement and this is what he had to say: “What nonsense, mdhara can’t retire just like that. I am going to persuade him to re-think. He is still fit and strong. I am going to the States and talk to him to hold two major concerts .
When the chimurenga exponent, Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo turned 80 years of age in July this year, one could tell he was still full of life as he began to make plans for the future.
The US-based musician said he was “extremely blessed to have a full life.”
As he put it: “Looking back at my life, I can honestly say that I have been extremely blessed to have lived a full life,” Mukanya said in a statement.
“I have managed to make a living out of my God-given gift, seen the world and lived long enough to see my children grow. Ndinotenda Mwari ne midzimu wandi svitsa pandiri nhasi. (I thank God and all my ancestoral spirits for having looked after me to what I am today) I also thank my fans for always supporting me — God bless you all and thank you for the love!” he said.
In my analysis, I do not think that there is a retirement age for musicians. Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones who are now in their eighties are still pulling in the crowds in concert-filled halls. For as long as the demand from the fans is still there, there is no need to retire. .
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