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Thomas Mapfumo fears arrest
Amnesty asked to assist Mapfumo in Zimbabwe
Thomas Mapfumo’s United States-based promoter, Al Green,
has appealed to Amnesty International to assist the musician when he comes home later this month.
In a letter to the Zimbabwean chapter of the international human rights group, Green said Mapfumo had been informed that there were plans to eliminate him during his visit to the country. In the message, Green says: “I am sure you recognise Mukanya’s name, and are aware of the persecution and censorship that the Mugabe regime has allowed upon this important social commentator and artist. Thomas has received word from sources within the Harare police department that there will be an attempt on his life should he return to Zimbabwe.
“This is in retaliation for Thomas’ messages to Zimbabweans in his music, messages which are critical of Mugabe. Thomas is currently in the US on a working visa and is planning to return home this month.” Green said despite the fact that the Mugabe regime had become very vicious,
Mapfumo was still determined to return home to play the music he had written for the people.
“Please, is there a way he can fly into Harare with AI at his side? The man truly needs some protection and the more cameras and international observers around him, the better. If there was always a video camera on him, the government would relent, I believe. I realise in the great scheme of things, we’re small, but this is important and Zimbabwe is a microcosm of the larger
picture: Injustice has to be peacefully resisted. There is no better way than through music,” said Green.
“Please let me know as soon as you can if your organisation can devote some of your resources towards getting Thomas into Zimbabwe and shielding him to some small degree while he is there.”
Green is the owner of Anonym Records of Pennsylvania, Mapfumo’s record label. He also helps in arranging the musician’s tours.
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| Related reading |
| 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 |
| 23 February 2003 |
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| 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 |
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| Thomas Mapfumo |
| "I am the voice of the voiceless.." Video and audio interviews with Thomas Mapfumo on music censorship in Zimbabwe |
| 26 May 2004 |
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| 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 |
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| 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
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| 10 December 2001 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
| 15 February 2002 |
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| 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 |
| 14 February 2002 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Andy Brown |
| Interview with Andy Brown. Music and censorship in Zimbabwe. (Recorded in 2000) |
| 01 January 2001 |
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| 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 |
| 12 June 2008 |
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