FOR MUKANYA, THE WILL IS STILL THERE BUT THE BODY IS GIVING IN
IMAGES of a frail-looking Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo have emerged in a short video in which he is captured wobbling onto the stage in Leicester, England, last week, with the aid of unidentified men.
The images suggest those who have been calling Mukanya, a legendary musician in this country, to call time on his stage shows, are right.
Putting on a brave face, but barely managing to control his movement, Mukanya appears desperate to meet and entertain the packed Corah Suite auditorium.
The gig was hyped as one of Mukanya’s last shows before he quits stage performances.
He says he will concentrate on studio recordings and mentorship work.
Clad in a black jacket, trademark woollen hat hiding his dreadlocks, matching pair of jeans and Puma sneakers, Mukanya had to work very hard just to make one step at a time onto the stage.
Even with the help of his aides, he was clearly struggling.
When he finally appeared on stage, his band – The Blacks Unlimited – had already set the party mood.
He appears to find balance from the microphone stand, which he holds on to firmly, during his show.
While his die-hard fans remain defiant Mukanya can still complete the rounds of farewell gigs lined up, his body language appears to suggest otherwise.
Veteran journalist and arts critic, Garikai Mazara, who hails from the same district of Guruve with Mukanya, reckons the Chimurenga godfather’s days on stage have long been over.
He shared his sentiments on Facebook.
“Around about this time last year, I wrote, urging Thomas Mapfumo to hang up the mic, mainly because his time is up.
“That he is no longer the young man he used to be.
“Some sections of social media saw it fit to roast me, arguing that I should rather be minding my own business.
“A year later, Mukanya returned to the United Kingdom, (the pounds must be tasty) and images are now emerging from his performances there.
“Rebel without a cause, simple. He must return home and enjoy his twilight years in tranquillity – no-one will ever bother him,” wrote Mazara on his Facebook post.
Fellow musician and social commentator, Wellington Maruta, poked fun at Mukanya insinuating he might have been high on something.
“Vainge vanwa,” he said.
Our correspondent in the UK, Forward Nyanyiwa, who was once roasted by Mukanya’s fans for addressing the issue, believes he was right.
“If he stands by his words, then this was his last show,” says Nyanyiwa.
However, another arts critic, Ano Shumba, believes Mukanya should not be forced into retirement.
“There should be a different treatment of age in music compared to other disciplines. You can choose not to listen to or attend a performance by an artist whose age does not appeal to you.
“This makes music a unique case.
“There is no prescribed retirement age for music.
“Mapfumo can retire whenever he feels like it as long as his fans enjoy his performances.
“A different argument would be made in disciplines like politics, which have serious consequences for society,” wrote Shumba.
-HMetro-
