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ZIMBABWE Most recent reports: Zimbabwe: Musician asks: why do you ban my music? In an open letter, musician Leonard Zhakata asks the country's ruling party ZANU-PF: "Why do you ban my music from being played on ZBC tv and radio?" Harare Tribune 11 August 2008 Zimbabwe: Two men arrested for listening to banned music album Job of a secret police officer in Zimbabwe now hangs in balance. His offence: he was linked to music that is deemed to be ‘sensitive’ by president Robert Mugabe’s regime Sebastian Nyamhangambiri 18 June 2008 Zimbabwe: Two musicians in hiding from police Two musicians who are facing charges of singing songs that are ‘sensitive’ failed to appear in court, and now a magistrate court has issued a warrant of arrest for them Sebastian Nyamhangambiri 12 June 2008 Zimbabwe: Censorship does not silence music Many songs of Zimbabwean music star Leonard Zhakata have been blacklisted by the state broadcaster. This has not silenced him, though Maxwell Sibanda, Freemuse 03 June 2008 Zimbabwe: Censored musician launches internet 'protest radio' Voto Radio Station invites all protest singers whose work is banned in Zimbabwe to use it as a platform where they can musically voice their concerns without fear of repression Harriet Chigege 26 May 2008 Zimbabwe: Duo have to come back to court in June A Harare magistrate has remanded out of custody two musicians who are facing charges of singing songs that are 'sensitive' Sebastian Nyamhangambiri 07 May 2008 Zimbabwe: Singing for the opposition is a crime Five days in prison and a possible sentence of up to two years imprisonment has not deterred two protest Zimbabwean singers from continuing to sell their new album Sebastian Nyamhangambiri 23 April 2008 Zimbabwe: Protest musician overcomes obstacles Raymond Majongwe could not find anyone who would print or publish his music within the country. He had to resort to foreign lands for recording his new album Sebastian Nyamhangambiri 26 March 2008 Zimbabwe before the elections: Airplay is only for the "patriots" While the radio keeps rotating songs that praise the current regime, opposition and dissenting voices are silenced, and things fall apart, writes Maxwell Sibanda from Harare Maxwell Sibanda 10 March 2008 Zimbabwe: Banned singer released her third protest music album Exiled Zimbabwean singer Viomak released her third protest music album, 'Happy 84th birthday President R.G Matibili (Great Son of Malawi)' on 21 February 2008 Harriet Chigege 29 February 2008 Zimbabwe: Concert blocked in Norton 'Rock de Vote' concert in Norton was delayed by more than four hours after the council chairman who is a known Zanu PF had called it off the last minute Sebastian Nyamhangambiri, Freemuse 14 February 2008 Zimbabwe: Rapper advised to change album title Maskiri, a rapper with an explicit and cutting tongue, has been forced to change the title of his upcoming album in order for him to get airplay from the state broadcaster Zenzele Ndebele, Freemuse 25 January 2008 Zimbabwe: Concert blocked in Chiredzi Police had given permission to a group of musicians to make a 'voter education concert' on 12 December 2007, but the Central Intelligence Organisation blocked the event Sebastian Nyamhangambiri, Freemuse 24 January 2008 Zimbabwe: 'Travelling concert' highlights repression A 'travelling concert' event gives stage to Zimbabwean artists who have suffered censorship of some of their work on state-controlled radio and television. 07 January 2008 Zimbabwe: How musicians avoid censorship In Zimbabwe, musicians manage to evade censorship by creating songs with double-meaning. And sometimes they get away with it, reports Freemuse's correspondent Zenzele Ndebele 28 November 2007 Zimbabwe: Profile of Thomas Mapfumo – 'the Lion of Zimbabwe' Throughout years of struggle, Mapfumo has been an important revolutionary figure in Zimbabwe – fighting with the power of music. Kristina Funkeson 27 November 2007 Chiwoniso Maraire Video interview with Chiwoniso Maraire together with Chirikure Chirikure and Paul Brickhill about their personal experiences with music censorship in Zimbabwe Mik Aidt 05 November 2007 Zimbabwe: Protest singer Viomak challenges Mugabe's regime Exiled Zimbabwean singer Viomak challenges the Mugabe regime, and she is well aware that by doing so she puts her life at risk Mik Aidt 30 October 2007 Zimbabwe: Urban grooves blacklisted by state radio Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, ZBC, has issued a directive to producers to ‘drastically’ reduce the number of urban grooves musicians on air Sebastian Nyamhangambiri 24 October 2007 Zimbabwe: Police cancel music show For the second time in 2007, the police has stopped a Radio Dialogue community function in Bulawayo. Zenzele Ndebele, Freemuse 06 September 2007 Zimbabwe: Radio programme about music censorship Radio programme about music censorship in Zimbabwe - with radio manager K. Nyoni, lawyer K. Phulu, poet A. Nyathi, and radio presenters R. Moyo and S. Mkhithika Zenzele Ndebele 07 June 2007 Zimbabwe: Dispute over gospel music album cover The release of the gospel album 'Zim-Praise Volume 1' has allegedly been stopped by Zimbabwian authorities because of its cover photo, writes The Zimbabwe Standard The Zimbabwe Standard 29 March 2007 Maxwell Sibanda: Music censorship in Zimbabwe Video interview with Zimbabwean journalist Maxwell Sibanda about the situation in Zimbabwe in 2006 concerning music censorship Mik Aidt 31 January 2007 3rd Freemuse World Conference on Music and Censorship 200 professional musicians, scholars, and composers from 22 countries met at the 3rd Freemuse World Conference on 25-26 November 2006 in Istanbul, Turkey 18 December 2006 Zimbabwe: South African DJ Cleo banned in Zimbabwe South African DJ and music producer DJ Cleo has been barred from entering Zimbabwe because he "uttered bad things" about president Robert Mugabe NewZimbabwe.com 08 May 2006 Zimbabwe: Musician receives death threats On 1 May 2006, prominent Zimbabwean musician Hosiah Chipanga was forced to pull out of the Workers Day celebrations following anonymous death threats Media Institute of Southern Africa 04 May 2006 Zimbabwe: Music industry is dying slowly Zimbabwe’s current political and economic crisis has destroyed the once vibrant music industry Maxwell Sibanda 28 October 2005 Musicians and Censorship in Zimbabwe Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 Albert Nyathi 12 May 2005 Six articles on music censorship in Zimbabwe Prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe held Thursday 28th April 2005 at Mannenberg Jazz Club, Harare Ole Reitov 12 May 2005 Tracing the Footsteps – Censorship and Music in Zimbabwe Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 Nyasha Nyakunu 12 May 2005 Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings’ Policies on Censorship of Music Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 Musavengana Nyasha 12 May 2005 Zimbabwe: A Case of Music Censorship Before and After Independence Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 Omen Muza 12 May 2005 Zimbabwe: Blacklisted – My Personal Experience Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 Leonard Zhakata 12 May 2005 Zimbabwe: Censorship of Locally Recorded Music Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 Emmanuel Vori 12 May 2005 Zimbabwe seminar: Censor meets musicians at meeting in April 2005 Supported by Freemuse, a seminar held in Harare in April 2005 dealt with the fear from musicians of the repressive political system in Zimbabwe... Ole Reitov 02 May 2005 Zimbabwe: Music central tool in election As campaigning for the 2005 parliamentary elections intensified, music became central to the contest Maxwell Sibanda 29 March 2005 Zimbabwe election: Musicians boycotted Report in The Independent: Prominent Zimbabwean singers find themselves caught in a dilemma 24 March 2005 Zimbabwean rapper Maskiri banned Maskiri says his latest album has been banned from the airwaves because of what State radio bosses considered offensive content AllAfrica.com 30 November 2004 Zimbabwe: Moyo under fire for using billions of taxpayers' money to sponsor own band Information Minister Jonathan Moyo has squandered at least Z$2-billion of public funds in recording and launching music group PaxAfro's first CD, and in hosting music concerts aimed at sprucing up the Zimbabwean government's battered image AllAfrica 14 November 2004 Zimbabwean gospel diva Fungisai Zvakavapano denied UK visa A London-based Zimbabwe news website quoted a British Embassy official as citing fear that she might not return to Zimbabwe after her tour as a reason for refusing her a visa AllAfrica.com 02 November 2004 Zimbabwean Censorship Board absent from censorship discussion “Artists in Zimbabwe do not know what the censorship board looks at when accessing productions, so this was an opportunity for them to know." A meeting in Harare discussed the growing concern about the Censorship Board Maxwell Sibanda 22 September 2004 Zimbabwe: Complete control - Music and propaganda in Zimbabwe The Zimbabwean government records 'praise music' to replace critical songs. Extensive article on Zanu PF and their use of music as propaganda, past and present Maxwell Sibanda 20 September 2004 Censorship threatens future musicians Thomas Mapfumo (Zimbabwe) and Freemuse executive director Marie Korpe interviewed by BBC at the launch of the book: Shoot the Singer! Music Censorship Today 01 June 2004 Thomas Mapfumo "I am the voice of the voiceless.." Video and audio interviews with Thomas Mapfumo on music censorship in Zimbabwe 26 May 2004 Shoot the Singer! Book "Shoot the Singer! Music Censorship Today". The first worldwide presentation of contemporary cases of music censorship, with cases from i.a. Burma, Mexico, Middle East, France, Algeria, Zimbabwe, USA, South Africa, Turkey. Edited by Freemuse director Marie Korpe, published by Zed Books, May 2004. 25 May 2004 Thomas Mapfumo denied visa The US based singer was denied entry into Canada on his last tour Al Green 10 December 2003 The Beginnings of Zimbabwean Protest Music Extensive background information on the political music of Zimbabwe - with artists like Mapfumo, Brown, and Mtukudzi - and also dealing with the Zanu PF governments use of music as propaganda 01 April 2003 Zimbabwe: musicians get taste of army brutality AS the Zanu PF government in Zimbabwe tightens its grip on power, musicians are increasingly being caught up in what has become an orgy of police and army brutality Zimbawe Situation 31 March 2003 Zimbabwe: Singing The Walls Down Protest music is alive and well in Zimbabwe, where the oppressed and the impoverished find hope and strength in the songs of Thomas Mapfumo and Oliver Mtukudzi. Extensive article, including interviews with Mapfumo and Mtukudzi, as well as with government officials Time Europe 23 February 2003 Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation employs Ian Smith laws Article on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation - still the sole broadcaster in Zimbabwe despite calls from all sectors of the media to free the airwaves Zenzo Ncube 14 October 2002 Thomas Mapfumo returns to Zimbabwe Interview with Thomas Mapfumo on his first performances at home in almost a year, his new album ‘Chimurenga Rebel’, and the prospects for Zimbabwe's immediate future AfroPop 15 February 2002 Pre-election tension in Zimbabwe In the run-up to the elections in March, artists in Zimbabwe fear that they may find themselves in trouble if their performance suggests criticism of the government BBC 14 February 2002 Thomas Mapfumo fears arrest Thomas Mapfumo’s promoter has appealed to Amnesty International to assist the musician when he comes home later this month. Mapfumo had been informed that there were plans to eliminate him during his visit to the country Zimbabwe Standard 10 December 2001 Zimbabwe: Bekithemba Khumalo plays with fire Zimbabwean musician Bekithemba Khumalo is having trouble marketing his latest song, which is provocatively titled The President is a Thief BBC 31 August 2001 Mugabe songs falls flat A lighting engineer has been charged with inciting hostility against Robert Mugabe after shining a spotlight on portraits of the Zimbabwean president during a live performance of a popular song about old age Reuters 02 January 2001 Key documents: Zimbabwe: Censorship does not silence music Many songs of Zimbabwean music star Leonard Zhakata have been blacklisted by the state broadcaster. This has not silenced him, though 03 June 2008 Zimbabwe before the elections: Airplay is only for the "patriots" While the radio keeps rotating songs that praise the current regime, opposition and dissenting voices are silenced, and things fall apart, writes Maxwell Sibanda from Harare 10 March 2008 Zimbabwe: Banned singer released her third protest music album Exiled Zimbabwean singer Viomak released her third protest music album, 'Happy 84th birthday President R.G Matibili (Great Son of Malawi)' on 21 February 2008 29 February 2008 Zimbabwe: How musicians avoid censorship In Zimbabwe, musicians manage to evade censorship by creating songs with double-meaning. And sometimes they get away with it, reports Freemuse's correspondent 28 November 2007 Zimbabwe: Profile of Thomas Mapfumo – 'the Lion of Zimbabwe' Throughout years of struggle, Mapfumo has been an important revolutionary figure in Zimbabwe – fighting with the power of music. 27 November 2007 Chiwoniso Maraire Video interview with Chiwoniso Maraire together with Chirikure Chirikure and Paul Brickhill about their personal experiences with music censorship in Zimbabwe 05 November 2007 Zimbabwe: Protest singer Viomak challenges Mugabe's regime Exiled Zimbabwean singer Viomak challenges the Mugabe regime, and she is well aware that by doing so she puts her life at risk 30 October 2007 Zimbabwe: Radio programme about music censorship Radio programme about music censorship in Zimbabwe - with radio manager K. Nyoni, lawyer K. Phulu, poet A. Nyathi, and radio presenters R. Moyo and S. Mkhithika 07 June 2007 3rd Freemuse World Conference on Music and Censorship 200 professional musicians, scholars, and composers from 22 countries met at the 3rd Freemuse World Conference on 25-26 November 2006 in Istanbul, Turkey 18 December 2006 Zimbabwe: Music industry is dying slowly Zimbabwe’s current political and economic crisis has destroyed the once vibrant music industry 28 October 2005 Musicians and Censorship in Zimbabwe Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 12 May 2005 Six articles on music censorship in Zimbabwe Prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe held Thursday 28th April 2005 at Mannenberg Jazz Club, Harare 12 May 2005 Tracing the Footsteps – Censorship and Music in Zimbabwe Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 12 May 2005 Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings’ Policies on Censorship of Music Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 12 May 2005 Zimbabwe: A Case of Music Censorship Before and After Independence Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 12 May 2005 Zimbabwe: Blacklisted – My Personal Experience Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 12 May 2005 Zimbabwe: Censorship of Locally Recorded Music Article prepared in connection with a seminar on Music Censorship in Zimbabwe, April 2005 12 May 2005 Zimbabwe seminar: Censor meets musicians at meeting in April 2005 Supported by Freemuse, a seminar held in Harare in April 2005 dealt with the fear from musicians of the repressive political system in Zimbabwe... 02 May 2005 Zimbabwe: Music central tool in election As campaigning for the 2005 parliamentary elections intensified, music became central to the contest 29 March 2005 Postscript to report on censorship in Zimbabwe "Playing with Fire: Fear and Self-Censorship in Zimbabwean Music". Extensive Freemuse report, including case studies on Thomas Mapfumo and Oliver Mtukudzi. Read abstract and full report (PDF) 05 January 2005 Zimbabwe: Complete control - Music and propaganda in Zimbabwe The Zimbabwean government records 'praise music' to replace critical songs. Extensive article on Zanu PF and their use of music as propaganda, past and present 20 September 2004 Thomas Mapfumo "I am the voice of the voiceless.." Video and audio interviews with Thomas Mapfumo on music censorship in Zimbabwe 26 May 2004 Shoot the Singer! Book "Shoot the Singer! Music Censorship Today". The first worldwide presentation of contemporary cases of music censorship, with cases from i.a. Burma, Mexico, Middle East, France, Algeria, Zimbabwe, USA, South Africa, Turkey. Edited by Freemuse director Marie Korpe, published by Zed Books, May 2004. 25 May 2004 Presentation of Zimbabwe report by Banning Eyre The author of the Freemuse report "Playing with Fire: Fear and Self-Censorship in Zimbabwean Music", Banning Eyre, introduces his work on this video from WOMEX 2001. 30 October 2001 Freemuse report on music censorship in Zimbabwe "Playing with Fire: Fear and Self-Censorship in Zimbabwean Music". Extensive Freemuse report, including case studies on Thomas Mapfumo and Oliver Mtukudzi. Read abstract and full report (PDF) 25 October 2001 Press release: Freemuse report on Zimbabwe Freemuse report on Zimbabwe launched 25 October 2001 Andy Brown Interview with Andy Brown. Music and censorship in Zimbabwe. (Recorded in 2000) 01 January 2001